GORHAM, Maine   –  Christine Stone had a goal and an assist to lead the University of Hartford Hawks to a 2-0 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-conference women's soccer game Wednesday evening at Hannaford Field.
 
The Huskies hit the post, or cross bar on three occasions in the loss.
 
The Records:
University of Hartford (4-2-1)
Southern Maine (5-2-1)
 
Today's game marked the second meeting between the University of Southern Maine and the University of Hartford. The Hawks are 2-0 versus the Huskies all-time, earning a 4-1 win in 2023. Recently transitioning to NCAA Division III competition from Division I, Hartford is a member of the Conference of New England, and is eligible for championship competition this year after a probationary year in 2023.
 
 
How It Happened:

• Stone scored an unassisted goal in the fourth minute as the Hawks pressured early, earning a pair of corner kicks in the opening minutes.  Following the Hawks second corner kick of the game, Stone collected a loose ball in the box and hit a hard strike to the right side for the 1-0 Hartford lead.
• The Huskies nearly had an equalizer in the 24^th minute when senior Ashley Sabatino (Scarborough, Maine) laced a shot from distance, but Hartford goalkeeper Sejal Johnson was able to make the acrobatic save and push it over the top of the net off of the cross bar for a USM corner.  The game remained 1-0 at the half in favor of the Hawks.
• Southern Maine pressured early in the second rifling off a flurry of shots that were blocked by Hawk defenders. The Huskies continued to pressure and Southern Maine drew a penalty kick after senior midfielder Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) was knocked to the ground in the box in the 69^th minute.  However, the Huskies attempted hit the post and ricocheted away.
• Hartford doubled its lead in the 77^th when Stone laid a ball off to the outside to Kathleen Brush for her second goal of the season.
• USM had another near-miss as an attempt from junior Cierra Hill (Pembroke, NH/Pembroke Academy) also hit the cross bar in the 83^rd.

 
The Goalkeepers:
SM, Hunter Stonebraker (2-1-1), 90:00, 2 GA, 6 Saves
UH, Sejal Johnson (3-2-1), 90:00, 0 GA, 5 Saves
 
Inside The Stats:

• After being outshot 5-3 in the first half, Southern Maine finished the game with a 18-10 lead in shots.  The Hawks had an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal. The Huskies led in corner kicks 7-5.
• Southern Maine has hit the cross bar or the post 10 times this season, striking the framework three times against the University of Hartford.
• Freshman Meghan Przybilla (St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony Village) earned her first collegiate start in today's contest.

 
Up Next:
Southern Maine returns to LEC action on Saturday (1:00 pm) against UMass Dartmouth.  Southern Maine's senior student-athletes will be recognized prior to that game for Senior Day.  After the game against the Corsairs, Southern Maine is on the road for its next four contests, including a Little East Conference game on Wednesday, October 2 (3:00 pm).
           
 
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