Huskies Oust Owls From LEC Tournament, 3-2

GORHAM, Maine  -  Freshman Adelle Surette (Sabattus, Maine/Oak Hill) scored the game-winning goal with 34 seconds in regulation to lead fourth-seed University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 3-2 win over fifth-seed Westfield State University Owls in a quarterfinal game of the 2021 Little East Conference field hockey tournament Tuesday night at Hannaford Field.

The Records:

Westfield State (9-10)

Southern Maine (13-8)

USM defeated Westfield State 2-0 in the regular season.  Facing each other for the 26^th time, the Huskies now lead the series 20-6-0. Westfield State closes its 2021 season losing its final three games consecutively.

How It Happened:

•  The Huskies got on the board early when sophomore Brooke Carson (Bryant Pond, Maine/Oxford Hills) scored just 42 seconds after the opening whistle.  Carson scored her 11^th goal of the season, collecting the rebound off of her first saved shot and sticking with the play for a 1-0 advantage. Carson's orginal shot was saved and deflected high. Carson was able to take it down out of the air on a one-time shot.
• Southern Maine took a 2-0 advantage in the 22^nd minute on a diving effort from senior captain Samantha Ellis (New Vineyard, Maine/Mt. Blue).  Sophomore Hannah Banks (Belfast, Maine) ignited the play with a brilliant individual effort carrying the ball through the Owl defense before sending the ball into the circle. Carson redirected the pass to Ellis for the assist.
• Down 2-0, Westfield rallied getting on the board in the 27^th minute.  Awarded a penalty stroke, freshman Kelsi McDevitt (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) subbed on for the attempt and hit a clean shot to the top left of the cage for a 2-1 game.
• After a scoreless third, the Owls equalized in the 49^th minute. Sophomore Madison Ouellette (Uxbridge, Mass.) redirected a centering pass from senior Lindsey Spindel (Mendon, mass./Nipmuc) from the near-post side of the cage.  
• Looking as though the game was headed to overtime, Surrette scored her fourth goal of the season and the first game-winning goal of her career, cleaning up a loose ball in front of the goal and slotting in past Owl goalkeeper senior Riley Goulet (Marion, Mass./Old Rochester). 

Inside The Stats:

• Southern Maine led WSU in shots (20-13) and penalty corners (14-10). 
• Ellis' goal gives her 29 for her career and moves her into a tie for ninth in USM career record books.  She has seven goals and five assists for 19 points this season.
• Surrette has scored all four of her goals this season against conference opponents, and has scored three of her four goals in the last three games.

The Goalkeepers:

• Husky junior Julianna Kiklis (York, Maine) made five saves to earn the win, and was helped out by a defensive save from sophomore Jordan Cummings (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little).
•  Senior Riley Goulet (Marion, Mass./Old Rochester) played a strong game for the Owls making nine saves.