USM Field Hockey: Southern Maine Earns Fourth Seed Will Host 2021 LEC Championship Quarterfinal

College Field Hockey

Southern Maine Earns Fourth Seed Will Host 2021 LEC Championship Quarterfinal

Huskies Finish LEC Regular Season 9-3

GORHAM, Maine  -   Closing the Little East Conference regular-season portion of its schedule with three consecutive wins, including a 2-1 victory over 2021 regular season champion, Keene State College, the University of Southern Maine Huskies’ field hockey team has earned the fourth-seed for the upcoming Little East Conference Championship tournament, and the rights to a home quarterfinal game. 

 

Southern Maine (12-8 overall, 9-3 Little East) completed the LEC regular season with a record of 9-3 and finished in a three-way tie for second place.  After tie-breaking procedures

were followed, the Huskies earn the no 4 spot in the tournament bracket and will host no. 5 Westfield State University Owls on Tuesday, November 2 (6:00 pm).  

 

Southern Maine hosted Westfield State during the regular season and earned a 2-0 win on October 2.  Husky sophomore Brooke Carson (Bryant Pond, Maine) scored both goals, including the game-winner in the second minute. Junior goalkeeper Julianna Kiklis (York, Maine) earned the shut out win making two saves.  USM outshot the Owls 13-9 (9-2 on target). 

 

Westfield enters the game 9-9 overall, and 8-4 in the Little East.  The Owls have lost their last two conference games 4-3 in overtime to Salem State, and 4-1 to Keene State to close out the season.  

 

Who: No. 5 Westfield State vs. No. 6  Southern Maine

When: Tuesday, November 2, 2021 – 6:00 pm

Where: Hannaford Field, University of Southern Maine – Gorham

What: 2021 Little East Conference Field Hockey Championship Tournament Quarterfinal

 

Southern Maine (12-8, 9-3 Little East)

Championships: 1 (2003)

LEC Tournament Record: 15-17 (.467), 18 appearances

Finals Appearances: 4   Finals Record: 1-3   Last Finals Appearance: 2016

 

Players to Watch: Sage Drinkwater, Fr., F, 11 goals, 5 assists, 27 points, 3 game-winning goals; Brooke Carson, So., F, 10 goals, 2 assists, 22 points, 4 game-winning goals; Samantha Ellis, Sr., F, 6 goals, 5 assists, 17 points, 2 game-winning goals; Chloe Arsenault, So., Midfielder, 7 goals, 1 assist, 15 points, 2 game-winners.

 

Goalkeeping: Julianna Kiklis, Jr., 2.33 GAA, .721 save percentage, 124 saves, three shutouts. 

 

Westfield State (9-9, 8-4 Little East)

Championships: None

LEC Tournament Record: 5-12 (.294), 12 appearances

Finals Appearances: 2   Finals Record: 0-2   Last Finals Appearance: 2017

 

Players to Watch: Cheryl Latona, 12 goals, 6 assists, 30 points, 3 game-winning goals; Shannon Roycroft, 4 goals, 6 assists, 14 points, 1 game-winning goal; Kelsi McDevitt, 5 goals, 10 points, 1 game-winning goal

 

Goalkeeping: Riley Goulet, 2.376 GAA, .679 save percentage, 89 saves, three shutouts.  .