Gorham, Maine – Junior Leanne Reichert (Portland,
Maine) scored on a diving play in the 91st minute to lead the
University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 2-1 overtime victory against
the Framingham State University Rams in a key Little East Conference
(LEC) field hockey game Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
Playing in its fifth overtime game of the season,
Southern Maine improves to 6-10 overall and 3-5 in the Little East
Conference. The win snapped a three-game slide by the Huskies and
helped them stay in the running for the final LEC playoff spot. Dropping
its fourth straight contest, Framingham State is now 2-11 overall and
1-7 in the Little East.
The Rams took the early lead over USM in the first
half on a penalty stroke following a green card in the circle on a
Huskies' defender. Framingham State freshman Meaghann Ackerman
(Littleton, Mass.) converted the stroke launching a shot in the upper
right corner with 8:17 gone in the half for her team-leading sixth goal
of the season.
Despite outshooting the Rams 12-3 in the first
half, Southern Maine trailed FSU through the frame.
The Huskies
continued to trail the Rams nearly 20 minutes into the second half
before junior Kyrstyn
Keating (Freedom, Maine) knocked in her second
goal of the season on an assist from sophomore Kaylie
Andrews (Kittery,Maine) in the 53rd minute. Huskies' senior Marina Davidson (Windham, Maine) started the play for USM winning the ball in
the midfield and carrying it down the right sideline. Davidson then
played the ball in to Andrews who passed it through to Keating for the
equalizer.
The Huskies controlled play in the second half
owning a 15-1 advantage in shots, but were unable to get the go-ahead
goal due to the outstanding play of FSU goalkeeper Alexandra Ricco (Agawam, Mass.). Ricco made 14 saves in regulation to keep her team in the game.
In the first overtime period, both teams had solid
scoring chances but neither could convert. Andrews had a pair of
attempts in the frame for USM, but Ricco turned aside each attack.
Following 85 minutes of action, the second
overtime period started and FSU had the first scoring chance just 28
seconds into the period on a shot from sophomore Amie Souza
(Taunton, Mass.), but Husky junior Amanda Kasbohm (York, Maine) made
the save. Moments later, Andrews again nearly scored for the Huskies on
a close-in attempt only to be denied by Ricco.
With 90 minutes expired and penalty strokes
looming, Keating started the game-winning play for the Huskies stealing
the ball away from a FSU player and carrying it down the near-side of
the field and streaking past a Rams defender. With Reichert sprinting
down the middle of the field, Keating led her teammate with a through
ball. As Ricco came out to challenge the play, Reichert went into a
dive and redirected the ball with her stick to the far post for the
win. The goal was Reichert's first of the season and her first career
game-winning goal.
Ricco made 17 saves in the loss in a solid effort
for the Rams. Kasbohm earned the win for Southern Maine making three
saves. USM finished with a 32-7 advantage in shots and a 12-2 lead in
penalty corners.
Southern Maine hosts Salem State on Tuesday (4:00
p.m.) in a Little East Conference game.
Framingham State will host
Worcester State on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) in a Little East Conference game.
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