Southern Maine Athletics

GORHAM, Maine – Izzy Rudders scored her first goal of the season in the 32nd minute to lead the Bates College Bobcats to a 1-0 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-conference women's soccer game Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
 
The Records:
Bates College (2-2)
Southern Maine (3-3-1)
 
Today's game marked the 38^th meeting between the University of Southern Maine and Bates College.  Bates leads the overall series 34-3-2 over the Huskies, Southern Maine is 2-2-2 against the Bobcats since 2019. USM earned a 1-0 win over Bates at home in 2022, played to a 0-0 draw in 2023 in Lewiston, and earned a 2-1 win at home in 2024. Bates earned a 3-0 win in 2025 in Lewiston.
 
How It Happened:

• In a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes of the first half, Southern Maine had a few quality chances, including a shot from sophomore Marie Benoit (Hallowell, Maine/Hall-Dale) that glanced off the far post in the 13^th minute, and a shot off of the cross bar from freshman Maya Ingles (Saint Paul, Minn./Saint Paul Central). Bates had two on frame in the 15^th minutes, including an attempt from Clara Oldenburg that was stopped in a diving effort from USM freshman goalkeeper McKenzie Vano (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull).
• Bates broke through for the go-ahead goal on a play down the left side of the field that saw Rudders knock in her first goal of the season on a feed from Olivia Becker in the 33^rd.  The Huskies nearly had an equalizer minutes later when senior Elizabeth Talbot (Windham, Maine) had her attempt cleared off the line in a sliding play from the Bates backline. Southern Maine outshot the Bobcats 13-7 in the first half, but trailed by a goal thanks to Rudders' well placed shot.
• In the second half, Bates carried a 10-3 (1-0 on goal) advantage in shots as the Huskies were unable to get clean chances in the final third.

 
The Goalkeepers:
BC: Sydney Litney (1-0), 90:00, 0 GA, 4 Saves; Team Save
SM: McKenzie Vano (2-2), 90:00, 1 GA, 5 Saves
 
Inside the Stats

• Bates and Southern Maine played a fairly even statistical game.  The Bobcats had a 17-16 led in shots (6-5 on goal), and Southern Maine had a slim 5-4 lead in corner kicks. 
• Vano played well in net for the Huskies. In addition to her five saves in the contest, Vano had several key defensive plays to end potential Bates' opportunities.

 
Up Next:
The Huskies host UMaine Fort Kent on Wednesday, September 23, (4:00 pm) before hitting the road for their final game of the month at Rhode Island College on Saturday, September 26 (2:00 pm) in Little East action.
 
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