GORHAM, Maine – Forced to play a man-down for nearly 45 minutes after a first-half red card was shown, the fourth-seed University of Southern Maine Huskies fell 3-2 to fifth-seed Rhode Island College in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Little East Conference Championship Tournament.
The Huskies led 1-0 early, but an RIC penalty kick, and then two quick goals in the first half had Southern Maine down 3-1. The Huskies rallied for a goal in the second half, but could not muster the equalizer in the loss.
The Records:
No. 5 Rhode Island College (9-6-3)
No. 4 Southern Maine (8-9-2, 4-3-1 LEC)
Today's game was the 33rd meeting between the Rhode Island College Anchormen and the University of Southern Maine Huskies. The Huskies lead the overall series 17-14-2, but RIC has won the last three consecutively. It is the first loss for the Huskies in the Little East Conference playoffs since the 2021 season when they fell in the semifinal 3-0 to WestConn.
How It Happened:
- Freshman Lizzy Neal (Parker, Colo./Lutheran) snuck one in under the crossbar to the far post with a hit from distance to put Southern Maine ahead 1-0 in the 17th. Scoring her second goal of the season, Neal was making the third start of her career.
- After the goal the play stayed central, until RIC had a dangerous ball in the box. After a foul in the box led to a penalty, the Anchormen tied the game up in the 26th minute. RIC's Sarah Pimental hit her attempt into the right side of the net for her sixth goal of the season.
- The Anchormen pressed on the restart and found back-to-back goals in the 32nd and 33rd minute to lead 3-1 as USM faced the rest of the half a man down.
- Southern Maine started the second half strong with a header from sophomore Lexi Morin (Brunswick, Maine) glancing wide-right, and a stop by RIC goalkeeper Nicole Nunes on an attempt from freshman Mia Wetzel (Oviedo, Fla.) in the 52nd and 53rd respectively.
- Both sides were at 10 players a piece in the 64th minute after an RIC player was sent off with a red card for a tackle in the box. Southern Maine's penalty was hit high of the frame as the game remained at 3-1.
- The Huskies pressed on and rattled off several more attempts as the game approached the 70-minute mark. Southern Maine was able to make it 3-2 in the 75th when Neal's carried the ball into the box on the left side and found Wetzel for the marker and a one-goal game. Scoring the second goal of her career, it was also her second goal in as many games.
- The Huskies had the final attempts of the game, including a last-second corner kick and header that went wide of frame for the final.
The Goalkeepers:
RIC: Nicole Nunes (9-6-3), 90:00, 2 GA, 4 Saves
SM:
Kaylee Vasiloff (3-3-1), 64:44, 3 GA, 1 Save;
McKenzie Vano, 25:16, 0 GA, 1 Save
Inside the Stats
- Southern Maine finished the game ahead in shots 18-10, outshooting the Anchormen 11-6 in the second half. RIC led 4-2 in corner kicks.
- .
Up Next:
The loss concludes the Huskies' 2026 season. Southern Maine will lose just one senior to graduation.
-cac-
-
