Southern Maine Falls to Eastern Connecticut in LEC Opener 8-6

Senior G Caley Presby stopped 13 shots in the Huskies loss to Eastern Connecticut.

GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore Katie Burke (South Windsor, Conn./East Catholic) sparked a three-goal uprising in a three-minute span in the latter stages of the second half to give the visiting Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors an 8-6 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in the teams Little East Conference opener Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field.

            Trailing 6-5 just past the midpoint of the second half, Burke set up junior Paige Schneider (East Lyme, Conn.) for the tying goal at 14:00.  Just over a minute later, Burke scored an unassisted goal to give the Warriors their first lead since early in the first half.  Less than two minutes later, Burke set up sophomore Maggie Bodington (Stratford, Conn.) for an insurance goal.  The three goals came in a span of 2:55.

            The win was the third straight for the Warriors and lifted their overall record above .500 for the first time this season at 5-4.  The Huskies dropped their fifth straight game to slide to 1-5 overall.

            Schneider led the Warriors with three goals.  Burke finished the game with a pair of goals and
two assists for four points.  Bodington had a goal and two assists.  Junior goalie Taylor Emmerson (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy) earned her fifth win of the season making six saves.

            Senior Sarah Pelligrinelli (Southington, Conn.) scored four goals for the Huskies.  Junior Sam Campobasso (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) had two goals and two assists.  Senior Caley Presby (Portland, Maine/Deering) stopped 13 shots.

            Southern Maine started quickly as Pelligrinelli scored her goal just 34 seconds into the game.  Campobasso doubled the Huskies lead at 23:50.

            Schneider tied the game scoring a pair of goals 1:35 apart.  Burke gave the Warriors their first lead just 19 seconds after Schneider had tied the game, converting a feed from Bodington.

            Pelligrinelli scored goals 40 seconds apart to restore the advantage to the Huskies 4-3.  Campobasso set up both goals with pinpoint passes from behind the goal.

            Inside three minutes to play in the opening, Eastern rookie Michelina Pina (Groton, Conn./R.E. Fitch) tied the game off a feed from Bodington at 2:38.  Pelligrinelli's fourth goal of the half, off a pass from freshman Colleen Fleming (South Portland, Maine), at 1:27 gave the home side a 5-4 lead at the halftime break.

            In the second half, the Warriors again tied the game at 22:46 when junior Caroline Regan (Niantic, Conn./East Lyme) scored on a free-position attempt.  Campobasso gave the Huskies their final lead with an unassisted goal at 19:52.

            Eastern Connecticut out shot Southern Maine 32-17 during the game and had a 30-25 edge in ground balls.  The Warriors also had a big 12-4 advantage in draw controls.

            Southern Maine returns to action on Thursday (4:00 p.m.) hosting Thomas College in a non-conference game.  Eastern Connecticut is in non-conference action next Saturday (12:00 p.m.) at Gordon College.