GORHAM, Maine - Freshman Kristina Conroy (Wakefield, Mass.) and sophomore Kerry D'Ambroise (Lowell, Mass.) each scored a goal Wednesday afternoon to lead the eighth-seeded Plymouth State University to a 2-0 win over top-seeded University of Southern Maine in the first round of the 2007 ECAC Division III New England Field Hockey Championship at Paula D. Hodgdon Field.

            Plymouth State improves to 11-8 overall and advances to face fifth-seeded St. Joseph's College (Maine) in the semifinal game this Saturday, Nov. 10, at 1:00 p.m. in Standish, Maine.  The Monks advanced with an upset victory of their own on Wednesday, a double-overtime, penalty-stroke decision at fourth-ranked Wheaton College. The Huskies finished their season with a 15-8 record, their highest win total since 2003 when USM had a 17-6 record.

            Conroy spotted the Panthers a 1-0 lead late in the first half when she tapped in a pass from sophomore Sarah Smith (Lexington, Mass.) in the 32nd minute. Smith's initial shot was saved on a diving effort from USM sophomore goalkeeper Allison Hill (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), but Smith was able to collect the rebound and fire a long pass to an onrushing Conroy for the score.

            PSU, which out shot Southern Maine 12-3, increased its advantage to 2-0 when D'Ambroise notched her team-leading seventh goal of the season in the 50th minute.

            Hill finished the game making eight saves for Southern Maine, including several diving attempts to keep her team in the game. Panther senior goalkeeper Katie Randall (Portsmouth, N.H.) was credited with one save in the win, earning her second shutout of the season.

            The contest was the third of the season between PSU and USM.  The Panthers won the regular season contest in Plymouth, 3-1, on Oct. 17, and the Huskies took last Thursday's Little East Conference Tournament semifinal in Gorham, 3-2 in overtime.

(Courtesy of Southern Maine Sports Information)

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