GORHAM, Maine – University of Southern Maine Athletics has an action-packed Homecoming weekend ahead with men's soccer, field hockey, women's soccer, and men's golf all taking the stage on Oct. 4–5. Huskies fans will have plenty to cheer for as teams compete on home turf and aim to build on early-season success.

Field Hockey Kicks Off the Weekend

The Huskies' field hockey team will open the festivities on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 12 p.m. when they host Eastern Connecticut State in their first Little East Conference game of the season. Southern Maine leads the all-time series against the Warriors 22-6. Last fall, the two programs met twice, with Eastern taking the regular-season matchup before the Huskies secured a 1-0 victory in the playoffs to advance to the semifinals.

Sophomore Leah Thibodeau (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little) scored the lone Husky goal in both contests last season and has already opened her 2025 scoring account. Juniors HJ Tuplin (Lisbon, Maine/Lisbon Falls) and Bri Townsend (Newport, Maine/Nokomis Regional), and freshman Addison Hawthorne (Newport, Maine/Nokomis Regional) share the team lead with two goals each, while senior Jaigan Boudreau (Dayton, Maine/Thornton Academy) anchors the back line with nine defensive saves – leading the NCAA Division III – and has already earned two Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Senior goalkeeper Eleanor Folsom (Winthrop, Maine) is second in the LEC in save percentage (.798) and has been recognized twice as Goalie of the Week. Freshman Maddie Niles (South Portland, Maine) has also made an early impact with two assists and four shots on goal, earning Rookie of the Week honors earlier this season.

Men's Soccer Battles Keene State

At 3 p.m. on Oct. 4, the Southern Maine men's soccer team will take the field in its third conference match-up of the year, squaring off against Keene State. The Owls lead the all-time series 21-5-2, but the Huskies claimed the most recent meeting with a dramatic 1-0 win. Senior Colin Albert (Gorham, Maine) netted the game-winner – his first career goal – in the 79th minute of that contest.

This season, Albert returns as a key contributor, joined by sophomore Alex Graver (Freeport, Maine/Jamaica College HS), who leads the team with two goals. Juniors Jack Brady (Jensen Beach, Fla.), Liam Conneely (Weymouth, Mass.), and Exauce Lenge (Portland, Maine) have also provided offensive sparks and will play critical roles in this high-stakes LEC match-up.

Men's Golf Hosts the Husky Classic

Homecoming action continues Sunday, Oct. 5, when the Southern Maine men's golf team hosts the Husky Classic at Riverside Golf Course, teeing off at 11:30 a.m. The event will serve as the team's final tune-up before the Little East Conference Men's Golf Championship.

The Huskies, the defending 2024 LEC Champs, have been dominant this fall, finishing first in seven of their nine tournaments. Sophomore Alex Grant (St. Alban, Maine/Nokomis Regional) has been a repeat LEC Player of the Week, while freshman Keenan Buteau (Scarborough, Maine) has twice earned Rookie of the Week honors. Sophomore Jaden Poirier (White River Junction, Vt./Hartford) is also a player to watch after finishing second individually at the Eastern Connecticut State University Warrior Invitational.

Women's Soccer Hosts Williams

Also on Sunday, Oct. 5, the Southern Maine women's soccer team, the three-time defending LEC Champs (2022, 2023, 2024) will face nationally-ranked Williams College at Hannaford Field at 1 p.m. The match marks just the third meeting between the two programs. The Huskies are 0-1-1 against the Ephs all-time but look poised to challenge this season.

Sophomore Meghan Przybilla (St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony Village) leads the Huskies with four goals and also paces the team in assists (5) and points (13). Sophomore Makyla Magid (Golden, Colo./Lakewood) has been another key contributor with two goals and three assists.

On defense, senior captains and sisters Cierra and Britney Hill (Pembroke, N.H./Pembroke Academy) will play critical roles. Britney has been a defensive anchor since her freshman year, while Cierra, a midfielder, has already recorded one goal and two assists, providing consistency on both ends of the field.
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Huskies Competing on the Road

While much of the action takes place in Gorham, several Southern Maine teams will be competing away from home during Homecoming weekend.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, the women's soccer team travels to Keene State College for a 3:30 p.m. Little East Conference match-up. The women's golf team will also be in action at the Bowdoin Polar Bear Shootout, with 9 a.m. tee times on both Oct. 4 and Oct. 5.

The men's and women's cross country teams head to Keene State for the Keene State Invitational, beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. Also on Oct. 4, the women's tennis team will face Rhode Island College in conference play starting at 1 p.m., while the women's volleyball team travels to Boston for a non-conference matchup against Emerson College at 1:30 p.m.