GORHAM, Maine    -  Senior Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) had a goal and an assist to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 2-1 win over the Bates College Bobcats in a non-conference women's soccer game Wednesday night at Hannaford Field.
 
Gould was joined by senior Kiki Huntress (Kittery Point, Maine/Traip Academy) in the scoring column as the Huskies are 2-0-2 against the Bobcats in their last four meetings.
 
 
The Records:
Bates College (5-7-1)
Southern Maine (12-2-2)
 
Today's game marked 36^th meeting between the University of Southern Maine and Bates College.  While Bates leads the overall series 32-3-2 over the Huskies, Southern Maine is 2-0-2 against the Bobcats since 2019. USM earned a 1-0 win over Bates at home in 2022, and played to a 0-0 draw in 2023 in Lewiston.
 
How It Happened:

• Pressuring early with a pair of shots and a corner kick in the opening 14 minutes of play, Huntress put the Huskies up 1-0 rising above the Bobcat defense and heading the ball down and away in the 14^th minute.  Huntress connected on a corner kick service from Gould for the marker.
• The Huskies finished the half outshooting the Bobcats 8-4, but were unable to put another goal across the line. Gould had a look on goal after an outstanding carry down the left side of the field, but missed just wide of the far post before time expired.
• USM started the second half on the front foot registering a pair of shots on goal and a corner kick in the first five minutes. Bates' Ruby Reimann made both saves to keep the Bobcats in the hunt down 1-0.
• Southern Maine doubled its advantage in the 65^th minute when Gould scored her team-leading 14^th goal of the season.  The Huskies built the play up from the back, and Gould and senior Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) connected on a one-two play just inside of the box before Gould hit a far post strike to the upper corner of the net.
• USM had a chance for three after being awarded a penalty kick after a Bates' handball in the box, but Reimann came up big, diving to her right to make the stop.  After the penalty, Bates brought back a goal in the 73^rd minute, scoring against the run of play. Eleanor Martin received the ball down the right win and hit a low driven ball from distance to the lower corner of the net for her third goal of the season.
• From there neither team had quality chances, and the Huskies clinically killed the clock in the final 10 minutes to earn the win.

 
The Goalkeepers:
Bates, Ruby Reimann (4-7-1), 90:00, 2 GA, 4 Saves
SM, Hunter Stonebraker (7-1-2), 90:00, 1 GA, 4 Saves
 
Inside The Stats:

• The Huskies have outscored their opponents 65-17 in 15 games and have outscored their Little East Conference opponents 28-5. Fifteen different players have scored for Southern Maine, and eight players have at least three goals.
• Southern Maine led the Bobcats in shots 15-9 (6-5 on frame), and had a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.
• With a goal and an assist in tonight's game, Gould now has 56 career goals, and 25 career assists – both program records.
• Huntress now has four goals and two assists this season for a career-best 10 points. The Huskies' defensive midfielder now has eight goals and seven assists in her 75 game career.

 
Up Next:
Southern Maine travels to WestConn on Saturday, October 26 (12:00 pm) for a Little East Conference contest and then will host VTSU-Castleton on Saturday, November 2 (12:00 pm) in its final LEC regular season game.  The 2024 Little East Conference tournament begins on Tuesday, November 5.
           
 
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