Westfield State goalkeeper Megan Fountaine waits for a shot in a game earlier this year. Fountaine had a pair of saves in posting her third shoutout of the week and fourth of the season in a 2-0 win over Southern Maine on Saturday. (File/Rick Sgalia photo)
GORHAM, MAINE – Senior Holly Brouillette (Burlington, Mass.) scored the only goal of the game and the Westfield State University Owls made the goal stand earning a 1-0 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference field hockey game Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
With the win, Westfield State improves to 2-1 in the conference and 6-1 overall. Southern Maine suffers its first loss in conference play to stand at 2-1 in the LEC and drops to 3-4 overall with its second straight loss.
Brouillette scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season in the seventh minutes, hitting the ball to the right side of the cage, after an assist from junior Megan Evans (Enfield, Conn.). Brouillette’s goal gives her 97 career points. She sits in fourth place on the Owls all-time scoring list, just two points behind former Owls’ head coach and standout Heather Cabral, who scored 99 points as an undergrad from 1988-91.
Both teams were nearly even statistically in the first half with WSU leading USM 4-3 in shots and 4-1 in penalty corners.
“Jenelle Juskiewicz and Rachel Bunce were incredible in the midfield and on defense for us today,” said Owls head coach Jessica Bergin. ” Rachel Testa came up with the ball on some very pretty defensive plays in the midfield as well.
Westfield State finished the game with a 7-4 edge in shots and a 7-3 lead in penalty corners. Senior Megan Fountaine (Scituate, Mass.) made two saves to earn her fourth shutout win of the season.
“Fountaine’s two saves were gorgeous – one a lunging save to clear it wide right in the first half, and the same thing on the opposite end in the second half,” said Bergen. “We are proud of our defensive unit for our third shutout of the week and fourth of the season.”
Huskies’ senior Amanda Kasbohm (York, Maine) made five saves in the loss.
Southern Maine remains at home for its next contest and will face Plymouth State in a Little East Conference game on Tuesday (4:00 p.m.). Westfield State travels to Fitchburg State on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) for an LEC game. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
