DANBURY, Conn. – Senior
Dylan Barr (Phippsburg, Maine/Morse) scored in the 62
nd minute to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 1-0 overtime win over the WestConn Wolves in a Little East Conference field hockey game Saturday morning at the WestSide Athletic Complex.
Playing in their fifth overtime game of the season, the Huskies are now 4-1 in overtime, including 2-0 in Little East Conference action.
THE RECORDS
Southern Maine (12-6, 5-0 Little East)
WestConn (9-9, 2-4 Little East)
Meeting for the first time in series history, Southern Maine is 1-0 against the Beacons. UMass Boston is in its first year as an NCAA Division III sport.
THE GOALKEEPERS:
SM: Hayley Romasco (10-5), 61:39, 0 GA, 1 Save
WC: Jaden Kilmer (5-4), 61:39, 1 GA, 14 Saves
Defensive Saves: WC, Samantha Leonard, Kaitlyn Biase, Eileen Fernandes
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Southern Maine controlled possession and led offensively, registering four shots in the opening quarter, but WestConn's Jaden Kilmer made three saves, and Samantha Leonard came up big with one of three Wolves' defensive saves in the game. Leonard stopped a near goal off of the stick of junior Kaya Joseph (Waterford, Maine/Oxford Hills) to keep the Huskies off the board.
- Senior Bri Townsend (Newport, Maine/Nokomis) nearly had a goal in the opening minutes of the second but her bid in the 18th minute was swept away by a defensive save from Kaitlyn Biase. WestConn registered all three of its shots in the second quarter, but USM freshman goalkeeper Haylee Romasco (Newport, Maine/Nokomis) was ready making her lone save in the game.
- USM pressured early in the third to start the second half with freshman Lizalyn Boudreau (Freeport, Maine), senior Bri Townsend (Newport, Maine/Nokomis) and sophomore Addison Battis (Fairfield, Maine/Lawrence) each putting a shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but Kilmer stopped each attempt to keep it 0-0.
- In the fourth, Southern Maine continued to pepper the goal with shots. Senior Leah Thibodeau (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little) put one on frame in the 47th only to be stopped by Kilmer, and Battis' attempt seconds later was denied by a defensive save from WestConn's Eileen Fernandes. The Huskies had nine shots in the fourth, seven on target, but Kilmer with the help of a defensive save forced overtime as the score remained 0-0.
- USM held the ball in their offensive end for the overtime period and Boudreau put USM's first shot on goal in the opening seconds, but Kilmer kicked it away. Barr nearly ended the game with 53 seconds ticked away in overtime, but her shot hit the near post. Townsend put a pair on target but Kilmer made both stops in short order before Barr's fourth goal of the week and sixth goal of the season ended the game.
INSIDE THE STATS:
- Southern Maine outshot the Wolves 27-3 (18-1 on goal), and had a 17-2 advantage in penalty corners.
- The Huskies defense did not allow the Wolves to register a shot in the second half or overtime period.
UP NEXT:
Southern Maine is on the road to WestConn on Saturday, October 24 (11:00 am). The Huskies return home on Tuesday, October 27 (6:30 pm) against Plymouth State.
-cac-
