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Leah thibodeau action bowdoin
James Liebowitz
Freshman Leah Thibodeau Scored the Huskies' Game-Winning Goal
1
Winner Southern Me. SOUTHERN (8-13)
0
Eastern Conn. St. EASTERN (7-12)
Winner
Southern Me. SOUTHERN
(8-13)
1
Final
0
Eastern Conn. St. EASTERN
(7-12)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Southern Me. SOUTHERN 1 0 0 0 1
Eastern Conn. St. EASTERN 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Field Hockey | | Christina Cracolici, Director of Athletic Communications

Thibodeau Goal Propels No. 5 Huskies Over No. 4 Warriors in Little East Quarterfinal

Huskies Advance to Little East Conference Semifinals, Face VTSU-Castleton on Thursday (4:00 pm)

WILLAMANTIC, Conn. – Freshman Leah Thibodeau (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little) scored in the 14th minute, and the University of Southern Maine Huskies' defense turned in an outstanding performance, to earn an 1-0 win over the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors in quarterfinal action of the 2024 Little East Conference Field Hockey Championship Tournament at McCarthy Field Tuesday afternoon.  Eastern Connecticut entered the tourney as the fourth seed, while the Huskies were on the road as the fifth seed.
 
With the win, Southern Maine advances to the semifinals of the 2024 LEC tournament, and will face regular season champions and tournament no. 1 seed VTSU-Castleton on Thursday, November 7 at Dave Wolk Stadium.  The Huskies faced the Spartans in the semifinals in 2023, earning a 2-1 overtime win at home on Hannaford Field. Southern Maine fell to the Spartans by a narrow 1-0 margin in 2024.
 
The Records:
Southern Maine (7-13, 2-4 Little East)
Eastern Connecticut (7-11, 2-4 Little East)
 
Today's game marked the 28th meeting between the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors and the University of Southern Maine Huskies.  Southern Maine leads the overall series 23-6. Eastern Connecticut took the 2024 regular season game over the Huskies, 4-1, snapping a two-game skid to Southern Maine.  Southern Maine defeated ECSU 3-1 in 2022, and 3-0 in 2023.  The Warriors earned a 3-2 double overtime win in 2021. 
 
The Goalkeepers:
SM, Eleanor Folsom (6-13), 60:00, 0 GA, 0 Saves
EC, Kiana Webster, (5-9), 60:00, 1 GA, 3 Saves
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • Both teams combined for just four first quarter shots, 3-1 in favor of the Huskies, but Southern Maine's second shot on goal found the back of the net.  Thibodeau broke through in the 14th minute with a low, driven shot from just inside the circle to give USM the only goal it would need in the game.  Thibodeau completed the assist from sophomore Dylan Barr (Phippsburg, Maine/Morse) for her fourth goal of her rookie campaign and first game-winning goal of her career.
  • Spearheaded by sophomore Jenessa Foster (Pittsfield, Maine/Maine Central Institute) and fifth-year senior Jordan Cummings (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little) the Huskies defense held the Warriors to just five total shots in the game, and did not allow a shot on goal.  Southern Maine kept ECSU to no shots recorded in the fourth quarter in a strong performance.
 
Inside The Statistics:
  • Five of the Huskies' seven wins this season have come on the road.   
  • The Huskies are the defending 2023 Little East Conference Champions.
  • The Huskies' shutout win is the third of the season – all of which have come on the road.
 
Up Next:
The Huskies advance to the semifinal round of the 2024 Little East Conference Field Hockey Championship Tournament. Southern Maine will head to No. 1 seed VTSU-Castleton on Thursday, November 7 (4:00 pm).   
 
-cac-
 
 
 
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