(Box Score)

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Senior India Lowe (Gloucester, Mass.) scored a hat trick Wednesday afternoon to lead the University of Southern Maine past Plymouth State University, 5-2, in Little East Conference field hockey action at Arold Field.  

            The Huskies remain tied for sixth in the LEC, improving to 6-3 in the conference and 10-6 overall.  The Panthers drop below the .500 mark in conference play at 4-5 in the LEC and 8-6 overall.

            The visitors got on board first midway through the opening half when Lowe shot and scored from a centering pass from teammate Bethany Bougie (Sanford, Maine).  Plymouth State answered back two minutes later when senior Morgan Lemmon (Gilford, N.H.) dribbled in just past the circle and fired a goal into the top of the net.  The score remained tied, 1-1, at the break.

            USM quickly retook the lead early in the second half when Lowe scored on her own rebound.  Freshman Rachel Trafton (Corinth, Maine) increased the Husky lead to two with a goal off a teammate's rebound with 22 minutes left in the second half. 

            PSU cut Southern Maine's lead back to one with an unassisted goal from senior Sammi Romano (Kingston, N.H.) midway through the second half.  The Huskies put the game away 10 minutes later with two goals 27 seconds apart by freshman Bethany Schleh (Gorham, Maine) and Lowe, who finished off her hat trick. 

            USM senior goaltender Allison Hill (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) made five saves in the Husky net, recording her ninth victory of the season.  Panther freshman goalie Hannah Sawyer (Kingston, N.H.) made four saves in the losing effort.

            Plymouth State will play under the lights at Worcester State Friday at 7:00 p.m.  Southern Maine will continue a five-game road trip at Bridgewater State on Friday.              

By John Andersch, Student Assistant 

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