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2024 Little East Conference Championship Team Photos
Deja Driscoll Smith
0
WestConn WESTCONN (11-6-5)
3
Winner Southern Me. SOUTHERN (15-2-3)
WestConn WESTCONN
(11-6-5)
0
Final
3
Southern Me. SOUTHERN
(15-2-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
WestConn WESTCONN 0 0 0
Southern Me. SOUTHERN 1 2 3

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Christina Cracolici, Director of Athletic Communications

Huskies Three-Peat: Gould, Huntress and Hill Score in 3-0 Shutout Over WestConn in 2024 Little East Conference Title Game

GORHAM, Maine   -  Senior Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) scored in the third minute, and senior Kiki Huntress (Kittery Point, Maine/Traip Academy) and junior Cierra Hill (Pembroke, NH/Pembroke Academy) each scored second-half goals to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to their third consecutive Little East Conference Championship with a 3-0 shutout win over the Western Connecticut State University Wolves Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
 
The Huskies' defense, led by 2024 Little East Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player, senior Mia Sargent (Portland, Maine/Deering) limited the Wolves to eight shots in the game, and just two on goal.  Southern Maine posted back-to-back shutout wins in the 2024 LEC tourney.
  
The Records:
No. 3 WestConn (11-6-5)
No. 1 Southern Maine (15-2-3)
 
Today's game marked 38th meeting between the Western Connecticut State University Wolves and the University of Southern Maine Huskies. Southern Maine is 4-0-1 against the Wolves in their last four meetings. WestConn leads the overall series 32-5-1. 
 
The Huskies have played the Wolves in each of their last three Little East Conference Championship games, defeating WestConn each time and outscoring the Wolves 9-1 during that stretch, including 2022 (3-1 2OT), 2023 (3-0), and 2024 (3-0).
 
Mia Sargent MOP with Mike Keller and Jacqueline Edmondson
Tournmanent Most Outstanding Player Mia Sargent with AD Mike Keller & President Jacqueline Edmondson

 
How It Happened:
  • Gould scored her team-leading 15th goal of the season in the third minute to put the Huskies up early 1-0. Sophomore Allie West (Waxahachie, Texas) won a challenge just inside of the Huskies defensive half and touch the ball forward onto Gould's feet.  Gould then worked a fantastic individual effort driving down the WestConn defense into the middle of the top of the 18 before hitting a well-placed ball to the far post past a diving effort of WestConn goalkeeper Gracen Regan.
  • Regan made six saves in the first half keeping the scoreline at 1-0 through the first 45 minutes.  WestConn had two solid chances in the opening stanza with Suzana Imetovski having a clear look at the goal in the sixth minute, and a close range effort from Adrian Alfano in the 42nd, but Husky senior goalkeeper Hunter Stonebraker (Mont Vernon, NH/Souhegan) made both stops.
  • USM pressured early in the second half, putting a pair of shots on frame from Hill and junior Julia Kratzer (Gorham, Maine) in the opening five minutes, but again Regan was up to the task. Minutes later, however, the Huskies found their second goal of the game.  After a foul was committed on the far side of the field, senior Emily Johnson (Scarborough, Maine) took the free kick and served in a strong ball into the box, finding the head of Huntress who headed the ball in the opposite direction for a 2-0 lead in the 57th minute.
  • The Huskies closed the door on the game in the 61st minute when Gould made a strong move just outside of the box on the far side and then played an outstanding ball onto the foot of Hill who collected her fourth goal of the season, and second goal of the tournament, for a 3-0 lead.
  • WestConn had an opportunity for one goal late in the game when a ball glanced off the cross bar and out for a corner kick in the 80th minute, but was the last strong chance at frame for the Woles for the rest of the game.
 
The Goalkeepers:
WC, Gracen Regan (7-4-4), 90:00, 3 GA, 14 Saves
SM, Hunter Stonebraker (8-1-3), 90:00, 0 GA, 2 Saves
 
Inside The Stats:
  • Southern Maine held a decisive advantage in shots (32-8) and in shots on goal 17-2. Both teams had five corner kicks. 
  • Gould's assist on Hill's goal in the 61st minute give her 12 on the season, establishing a new single-season record for assists (12).  The previous record (11) was held by current junior forward Riley Reitchel (Palermo, Maine/Erskine Academy). 
  • Stonebraker's shutout is her seventh of the season.  The Huskies have earned a shutout in their last four games consecutively.
 
Up Next:
As the 2024 Little East Conference Tournament Champions, the University of Southern Maine Huskies earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament. The NCAA Live Selection show is scheduled for Monday, November 11 (2:00 pm EST).  The Huskies will learn their first-round opponent at that time. The NCAA first round games are scheduled for Saturday, November 16.
           
-cac-
 
 
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