GORHAM, Maine   -  Junior Riley Reitchel (Palermo, Maine/Erskine Academy) scored twice in the opening 20 minutes, and junior Bridgette Toland (Jamestown, RI/North Kingstown) converted a penalty in the 36^th minute as the University of Southern Maine Huskies dominated the VTSU-Castleton Spartans in a 3-0 Little East Conference women's soccer win Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
 
Reitchel's first goal in the 11^th minute was her eighth of the season, and set a new team record for goals in a season.  After the 3-0 win, the Huskies now have 68 goals in 2024, besting the previous mark of 65 set in 2022.  Southern Maine has outscored its opponents 68-17 overall and 31-5 against LEC opponents.  Sixteen different Huskies have scored this season.
 
The Records:
VTSU-Castleton (8-10-1, 3-4 LEC)
Southern Maine (13-2-3, 7-0-1 LEC)
 
Today's game marked the seventh meeting between the University of Southern Maine Huskies and VTSU-Castleton Spartans. The Huskies have won the last three consecutively and lead the overall series 4-2. Southern Maine earned a 5-2 win over the Spartans during its 2023 regular-season finale.
 
How It Happened:

• Peppering the Spartans with eight shots and two corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of the game, the Huskies broke through for a goal in the 11^th minute.  Senior Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) received a ball in the middle of the field from classmate Mia Sargent (Portland, Maine/Deering) and drove at the Spartan defense before laying off a through ball onto the feet of Reitchel. Reitchel broke through the Spartan defense and was one-on-one with the keeper touching it to the right side for a 1-0 lead.
• Minutes later Reitchel made it 2-0 collecting a loose ball just at the 18 following a blocked attempt from Gould. Corralling the ball, Reitchel turned and hit a one-time shot to the far post for a 2-0 USM lead in the 18^th minute.
• Continuing its pressure, Southern Maine made it a 3-0 game in the 36^th.  Toland ran onto a ball played into the box and was taken down before putting a foot on the ball and was awarded a penalty kick.  Stepping to the spot, Toland converted past the diving Spartan keeper for her second goal of 2024.
• USM had several quality chances in the second half, and outshot the Spartans 18-2 (9-1 on target). Senior midfielder Kiki Huntress (Kennebunk, Maine/Traip Academy) had a pair of chances in the air, but Spartan goalkeeper Emma Ezzo made two quality stops and finished with 15 saves in the game.  Gould nearly had a goal of her own in the 72^nd minute but her far post attempt rang off the post and was scurried away.

 
The Goalkeepers:
VTSU-Castleton, Emma Ezzo (8-10-1), 90:00, 3 GA, 15 Saves
SM, Madi Jordan (2-0), 45:00, 0 GA, 0 Saves; Lucy McLaughlin, 45:00, 0 GA, 1 Save
 
Inside The Stats:

• Southern Maine outshot the Spartans 36-3 (18-1 on target), and had a 12-5 lead in corner kicks. The Huskies did not allow a shot on goal from VTSU-Castleton until the 60^th minute. 
• Reitchel's two goals in today's win gives her nine for the season (eight games played), and 22 in her career.  She has three game-winning goals this season and eight in her career.
• Toland's penalty conversion is the first attempt and make of her intercollegiate career. She has two goals and three assists in nine games played in 2024.

 
Up Next:
The 2024 Little East Conference tournament begins on Tuesday, November 5. As the 2024 Regular Season Little East Conference Champions, the Huskies have a quarterfinal round bye, and will host a semifinal game on Thursday, November 7 (6:30 pm).  The Huskies will face the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 quarterfinal game which will be played on November 5 at the higher seed's home field.
           
-cac-