USM Women's Soccer: Allain, Berthiaume & Lynch Named 2021 Huskies’ Women’s Soccer Captains

GORHAM, Maine –  Seniors Alex Allain (Carmel, Maine/Hermon) and Ciera Berthiaume (Windham, Maine) and junior Katie Lynch (Bellingham, Mass./Mount St. Charles) have each been named captains of the 2021 University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s soccer team.  Fourth-year head coach Seth Benjamin ’00, the 2018 Little East Conference Coach of the Year, made the announcement as his squad prepares for its season-opening contest on Wednesday, September 1 (4:00 pm) against Thomas College at Hannaford Field in Gorham. 

            “CiCi, Alex and Katie are excellent choices

for leaders for this upcoming season,” said Benjamin.  “They’ve demonstrated a commitment to individual and team goals and provide vocal leadership, and leadership by example.  They are dependable, coachable and have shown an eagerness to improve and learn, and possess a team-first mentality.  As captains their example and drive will be vital as we progress towards our goals as a team.” 

            A 2020 LEC All-Academic team member and a William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete, Lynch is a Marketing major.  During the 2019 season as a rookie, Lynch saw action in 12 contests, recording her first career point, an assist, in a 3-0 win over Colby-Sawyer College. Lynch is a midfielder. 

            A 2018 All-Little East Conference midfielder, Allain began her Huskies’ career with a hat trick in a 10-0 win over Mitchell.  Allain finished her first season with seven goals and seven assists for 21 points, helping USM to a school record 14 wins. In 2019, Allain controlled the Huskies’ midfield and had four goals and three assists for 11 points. With 11 goals and 10 assists in her career, Allain is in the top 20 in career goals scored and tied for sixth in career assists.  Her 32 career points are tied for 17th.  A Nursing major, Allain is a two-time William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete and earned Fall All-Academic Team honors in 2019 and 2020.   

            Earning second team All-Little East Conference honors in 2018 and 2019, Berthiaume has been the Huskies’ leading scorer in the last two seasons.  Bursting onto the scene in 2018, Berthiaume totaled 13 goals and seven assists for 33 points.  Her 33 points are tied for the single-season record for the Huskies’ program, while her 13 goals are second in Husky single-season records.  Four of her 13 goals in her first season went for game-winners. In 2019, Berthiaume had 11 goals and four assists for 26 points, and again scored four game-winning goals.  With 24 goals and 11 assists to her credit, Berthiaume has 59 career points.  Her 24 goals are currently fourth in USM career records, while her 11 assists are fifth.  She need just four goals to tie the Huskies’ career record of 28 goals set by former standout Ali Hathaway (1998-2000).