BIDDEFORD, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's ice hockey team opened the second half of the 2025-26 season with a tight 3-2 loss to the University of New England Nor'easters despite scoring twice in the third period. Freshman Gracelyn Koch (Maple Grove, New Brunswick) scored the first goal of her career for the Huskies. Southern Maine also had a goal from graduate student Madison Chagnon (St. Albans, Vt./Rice Memorial) that was assisted by junior Morgan Rochefort (Saco, Maine/Brooks School) and senior Saige MacLeod (Dryden, Ontario).
 
Junior Maggie Jones (St. John's, Newfoundland/Mount Academy) made 21 saves for the Huskies. UNE's Kyleigh Matola had 25 saves to earn the win.
 
The Records:
Southern Maine: 5-7-0
UNE: 6-6-0
 
Series History:
The Nor'easters lead the series 14-10-2 and have won each of the last three games.
 
The Goaltenders:
Southern Maine: Maggie Jones (5-7-0): 58:08, three goals allowed, 21 saves
UNE: Kyleigh Matola (6-3-0): 59:40, two goals allowed, 25 saves
 
How It Happened:

• The hosts needed just 1:04 to score their first goal as Lainie Lemieux found the back of the net early on and the Nor'easters held that lead the rest of the period. The Huskies led 6-3 in shots on goal at the first intermission.
• Adria Tebo gave UNE a 2-0 lead with a power play goal with 1:57 left in the second period. The Huskies were perfect on the penalty kill through 35 attempts on the season before Tebo's goal. Matola made 11 saves and her defense blocked 12 shots in the period to keep the Huskies off the board through 40 minutes of action.
• Koch's first collegiate tally cut the lead to 2-1 with 6:42 to go before the Nor'easters answered back with a goal by Jamie DuPont less than 90 seconds later to make the lead 3-1. The quick-scoring action continued just 1:08 later when Chagnon got the Huskies back within a goal with her third goal of the season.
• The Huskies put three more shots on goal over the final four minutes by Matola and the Nor'easters were able to hang on to earn the win and sweep the season series.

 
 
Inside The Stats:

• Southern Maine led 27-24 in shots on goal and 57-31 in total shots. UNE's defense blocked 22 shots to help limit the Huskies' scoring chances.
• The Nor'easters edged out the Huskies 27-26 in faceoff wins. Sophomore Joely Power (Clarenville, Newfoundland/Mount Academy) led the Huskies with an 8-6 record on faceoffs.
• Chagnon's goal is the 49th of her career. Her next score will make her just the second player in program history to reach 50 career goals. The program record is held by Holly Manning with 81 from 1999-2003.

 
Up Next:
The Huskies will host two a pair of games against New England College next week starting on Friday at 4:00 pm.