GORHAM, Maine - Scoring three times in the first 16 minutes of the game, the University of Southern Maine Huskies rolled to a 5-1 win over the Plymouth State University Panthers in a Little East Conference women's soccer game Wednesday night at Hannaford Field.
Senior
Riley Reitchel (Palermo, Maine/Erskine Academy) had a brace and an assist, while sophomore
Meghan Przybilla (St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony's) had a goal and two assists to lead the Huskies' offense. Defensively, the Huskies limited Plymouth State to just four shots in the game (two on frame), and senior center back
Devon Gatz (Millis, Mass.) scored the first goal of her career.
With the win, Southern Maine earned the no. 3 seed in the upcoming 2025 Little East Conference Women's Soccer Championship Tournament, and will host no. 6 UMass Boston. Time is to be determined. The Huskies are the three-time defending LEC Champions (2022, 2023, 2024).
The Records:
Plymouth State (6-12, 0-8 LEC)
Southern Maine (8-10-2, 4-2-2 LEC)
Tonight's game marked the 42nd meeting between the University of Southern Maine and Plymouth State University. In the last seven meetings, Southern Maine is 6-1 against Plymouth State earning a 6-1 win at home in 2024. Plymouth State leads the overall series 25-15-1.
How It Happened:
- Senior Kadynne Smith (Biddeford, Maine) scored in the seventh minute to give Southern Maine an early 1-0 lead, and Reitchel and Przybilla followed in the ninth and 16th minutes to put the Huskies ahead 3-0.
- Smith scored her second goal of the season on a difficult angle from the left side of the field beating PSU goalkeeper Sydney Rowe to the far post. Reitchel's first goal of the game came less than two minutes later when Przybilla knocked an outstanding ball over the top into the path of Reitchel for the finish. Przybilla made it 3-0 punching in a goal off of Smith's rebound.
- PSU responded before the half as Molly Bellmore connected on a long-distance strike, beating Husky goalkeeper freshman Madi Cook (Essex, Mass.) over the top in the 36th minute.
- Southern Maine pressured for more goals before the half, but Rowe was outstanding in net for the Panthers making nine of her 18 saves in the opening half.
- Up 3-1 after the break, Southern Maine worked quickly to lead 4-1. Reitchel connected on a long distance strike of her own on a feed from Przybilla in the 49th.
- The Huskies made it 5-1 for the final in the 55th minute. Taking one of the Huskies' six corners in the game, Reitchel hit a well-place ball into the box and Gatz headed it home to the near post for the first goal of her career.
Inside the State:
- Reitchel's brace included her seventh and eighth goals of the season. She has eight goals and six assists for 22 points in 2025, and 30 goals, 22 assists and 82 points in her 75-game career. She is fourth in career goals (30), is second in career assists, and third in career points (82).
- Przybilla has 12 goals and eight assists for 32 points this season. She is tied for the conference lead in goals scored in 2025. Her 12 goals are tied for sixth in single-season USM records, while her eight assists are four. Her 32 points are tied for sixth.
The Goalkeepers:
PSU: Sydney Rowe (2-6), 90:00, 5 GA, 18 Saves
SM:
Madi Cook (3-2-0), 66:16, 1 GA, 1 Saves;
Lucy McLaughlin, 23:44, 0 GA, 0 Saves
Up Next:
The Huskies will compete in the 2025 Little East Conference tournament begins on Saturday, November 1. Southern Maine is the no. 3 seed and will host a home quarterfinal vs. No. 6 UMass Boston. Time is to be determined. The winner will advance to play the No. 2 seed Keene State Owls. Southern Maine has claimed the last three conference championships (2022, 2023, 2024).
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