PLYMOUTH, NH  –  Junior Bri Townsend (Newport, Maine/Nokomis) recorded a hat trick and the University of Southern Maine Huskies rolled to a 4-1 win over the Plymouth State University Panthers in a Little East Conference field hockey game Tuesday afternoon at Panther Field.
 
Freshman Maddie Niles (Benton, Maine/Lawrence) scored the other Huskies goal, helping USM to its fourth consecutive win.  Senior goalkeeper Eleanor Folsom (Winthrop, Maine) earned her 11^th win of the season, making eight saves in the first 45 minutes before giving way to freshman Allison Marines (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) for the final 15.
 
THE RECORDS
Southern Maine (11-8, 4-1 LEC)
Plymouth State (5-10, 1-4 LEC
 
Today's game marked the 60th meeting between the University of Southern Maine Huskies and the Plymouth State University Panthers. Plymouth State leads the overall series 36-21-3. However, Southern Maine has won six of the last eight meetings, including five consecutively from 2018 through 2023.
 
THE GOALKEEPERS:
SM:  Eleanor Folsom (11-8), 45:00, 1 GA, 8 Saves; Allison Marines, 15:00, 0 GA, 1 Save
PSU: Natalie Merrick (5-10), 60:00, 4 GA, 11 Saves
 
Defensive Saves: SM, Olivia Staggs
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After a scoreless first quarter which saw both teams combine for a total of six shots (four on goal), Southern Maine poured on the offensive pressure in the second quarter outshooting the Panthers 12-2, and scoring three of its four goals in the game.
• Townsend wasted little time in the second quarter putting her team ahead 1-0 just 25 seconds into the frame. She doubled the score to 2-0 scoring her 10^th goal of the season in the 20^th minute.
• Niles made it 3-0 just before the halftime break scoring her seventh goal of the season with just nine seconds remaining in the second quarter.
• Townsend completed the hat trick four minutes into the second half, making it a 4-0 lead. PSU broke up the shutout bid in the 44^th minute ending the period down 4-1.  Katie Porrello scored the lone Panther goal.

 
INSIDE THE STATS:

• Southern Maine outshot the Panthers 27-12 (16-4 in the first half). PSU led in penalty corners 7-6.
• Folsom's win gives her 32 in her career.  She has a career-high 114 saves this season with three shutouts. 

 
UP NEXT:
Southern Maine closes out its 2025 regular season at home against Keene State on Saturday, November 1 (1:00 pm).  The 2025 LEC Field Hockey tournament begins on Tuesday, November 4.  Qualified teams, pairings, host-sites and times will be announced prior to the start of the tourney.
 
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