CASTLETON, Vermont – Senior
Jaigan Boudreau (Dayton, Maine/Thornton Academy) and freshman
Maddie Niles (Benton, Maine/Lawrence) each scored second-half goals to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 2-0 win over the Vermont State University Castleton Spartans in a Little East Conference field hockey game Saturday night at Dave Wolk Stadium.
THE RECORDS
Southern Maine (8-8, 2-1 LEC)
VTSU-Castleton (5-8, 1-2 LEC)
Today's game marked the 11th meeting between the Spartans and the University of Southern Maine Huskies. Southern Maine leads the overall series 7-4. The Spartans had won two straight over Southern Maine as VTSU-Castleton swept the Huskies in the 2024 regular season 1-0, and earned a 2-1 win in the LEC semifinal.
THE GOALKEEPERS:
SM:
Eleanor Folsom (8-8), 60:00, 0 GA, 3 Saves
CU: Zoe Martin (5-8), 60:00, 2 GA, 8 Saves
Defensive Saves: SM,
Julia Elie CU, Jess Smithson
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After a back-and-forth first half, the Huskies and the Spartans were locked in a scoreless battle. The Huskies held a slim 9-6 lead in shots (5-2 on target). Both team's defensive were on their game as Spartan Jess Smithson made an early defensive save in the second minute, and Huskies' sophomore Julia Elie (Dayton, Maine/Thornton Academy) made one of her own in the eighth minute.
- USM pressured early in the second half, registering seven shots and two penalty corners in the first seven minutes of the third quarter. The Huskies finally broke through for a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute when Boudreau scored her second goal of the season. Earning a penalty stroke, Boudreau converted for the lead.
- The game remained in striking distance for the Spartans before Niles tapped in her fifth goal of the season in the 57th minute to seal the game. Niles received a well-placed ball from senior Taylor Leclerc (Fairfield, Maine/Lawrence) from the right side of the field. Leclerc's assist is her second of the season.
INSIDE THE STATS:
- Southern Maine finished the game outshooting the Spartans 20-9, and had a 9-6 lead in penalty corners.
- Boudreau's goal is her second of the season, and second penalty shot conversion. The goal is also Boudreau's third of her career, and first game-winning goal.
- Elie has three defensive saves this season.
UP NEXT:
The Huskies host New England College on Tuesday, October 21 (7:00 pm) in a non-conference match-up. Southern Maine returns to Little East Conference action and hosts Western Connecticut on Saturday (12:00 pm).
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