USM Women's Soccer: 2021 LEC Quarterfinal - No. 5 Southern Maine No. 4 Eastern Connecticut

Women’s College Soccer

2021 Little East Conference Women’s Soccer Quarterfinal

No. 5 Huskies Down No. 4 Eastern Connecticut 2-0 on the Road; First Win Over the Warriors since 2000.

MANSFIELD, Conn. – Sophomore Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) and junior Emma Forgues (Gorham, Maine) scored bookend goals to lead the fifth-seed University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 2-0 win over the fourth-seed Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors in a quarterfinal game of the 2021 Little East Conference women’s soccer tournament.

 

Gould scored in the ninth minute to put USM ahead early, and Forgues scored in

the 89^th minute to shut the door on any last minute Warrior comeback in the victory.  Gould’s goal was her ninth of the season, while Forgues tallied her seventh. 

 

The Records:

Southern Maine (11-3-3)

Eastern Connecticut (7-7-2)

 

The Huskies and Warriors battled to a 1-1 double overtime draw in the regular season. Tonight’s meeting marked the 38^th game between the two schools, and the win is just the fourth in program history for Southern Maine over Eastern Connecticut State, and the first since the 2000 season at 2-1 win on October 24.  

 

How It Happened:

·      After threatening ECSU early with a shot off the crossbar in the second minute, and another shot on frame for a save at the 8:12 mark, Gould finally broke through 18 seconds later in the ninth minute for a 1-0 USM lead.

·      Forgues played a quick ball to her right to senior Ciera Berthiaume (Windam, Maine). With the defense collapsing on Berthiaume, she slotted the ball to her right to an open Gould. Gould finished beating ECSU goalkeeper Alexis Tyrell to the right. 

·      ECSU nearly got on the board for the equalizer in the 39^th minute when Briley Harnois carried the ball down the field and lauched a shot on target only to be denied by Husky sophomore goalkeeper Bre Atwood (Franklin, Mass.).

·      In the second half, the Warriors had a couple of chances to tie the game including a shot from  Dani Rovalino in the 62^nd minute that hit off of the crossbar.  

·      USM responded with a near miss of its own off of a Berthiaume corner kick and a towering header from freshman Kiki Huntress (Kittery Point, Maine) that went wide of the goal in the 67^th.

·      USM closed the game late on the Forgues marker.  Berthiaume sent a forward pass to senior Alex Allain (Carmel, Maine/Hermon) down the right side of the field,and Allain played a well-weighted ball into the box for a wide open Forgues who touched it past ECSU goalkeeper Emily Wallace, who came on to start the second half.

The Goalkeepers:

·      Sophomore Bre Atwood (Franklin, Mass.) earned the shutout making six saves, including four in the first half.

·      Tyrell played the first 45 for ECSU making four saves and allowing a goal.  Wallace played the final 45, allowing a goal and did not make an assist.

 

Inside the Stats:

·      The shutout is the fourth of the season for Atwood who is 10-3-2 in her first season.

·      Allain and Berthiaume each have 16 career assists after tonight’s game. They are tied for second all-time in Husky records. Allain has 16 goals and 16 assists in her career for 48 points, which is tied for 6^th in career records.  Berthiaume has 36 goals and 16 assists for 88 points. She is already USM’s career leader in goals and points.

·      Gould’s game-winner was her fourth of the season.  She has nine goals and four assists for 22 points. Her 22 points are 12^th in single season records, and her nine goals are seventh in single season records.

 

Up Next:

Southern Maine will head to top-seeded Western Connecticut on Thursday, November 4 (6:00 pm). Western Connecticut is the 2021 LEC regular season champion.