(Game Box)

            GORHAM, Maine - Freshman Danielle Ward (Lansing, Mich.) and junior Jessica Knight (Alfred, Maine) scored two goals apiece Friday afternoon as the University of Southern Maine defeated Plymouth State University, 6-1, in an ECAC Women's East ice hockey game at the USM Ice Arena.

            Ward scored both of her goals in the second period as the Huskies skated to a 3-1 lead after two periods, and Knight added a pair in the third period to help seal the win.  USM is now 5-3-0 overall and tied for second in the ECAC East with a 5-1-0 mark, while PSU is winless in five games.

            Senior Stephanie King (East Sandwich, Mass.) tallied the only goal of the first period for the Huskies, an unassisted marker at 9:28.  Ward made it 2-0 early in the second period, but freshman Jaimie Camara (Portsmouth, R.I.) put PSU on the board less than a minute later, with an assist from classmate Molly Blaine (Concord, N.H.), to cut the margin to one goal.  Ward's second of the game and fifth of the season with four minutes remaining gave the Huskies a 3-1 margin entering the third.

            PSU stayed within striking distance until sophomore Mary Vaughan (Brunswick, Maine) notched a power play goal for USM at the 8:46 mark, and Knight added her first a little over a minute later to put the game out of reach.  Knight added her team-leading sixth of the season at 16:24 to round out the scoring.

            Southern Maine finished with a 46-18 advantage in shots on goal.  Sophomore Jackie Zarb (Grosse Points Woods, Mich.) remained undefeated (4-0-0) with a 17-save effort for USM, while senior goalie Lindsay DeLorie (Holliston, Mass.) made 40 saves for the Panthers.

            The two teams will play the second half of a home-and-home doubleheader Saturday afternoon with a 2:00 p.m. face-off at Waterville Valley Ice Arena. 

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