Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- First-year striker Sarah Richardson (Rochester, N.H.) scored a goal in each half, as the University of New England Nor'easters rallied from an early 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 non-conference women's soccer victory over the University of Southern Maine under the lights Wednesday evening.

The win was the first for the Nor'easters (2-0) over the Huskies (1-1) since the 1994 season.  USM had gone 11-0-2 over the last 13 meetings between the two teams.

Southern Maine broke into the scoring column early when sophomore forward Heidi DeHaan (Lewiston, Maine) took a pass from first-year midfielder Bridget FitzGerald (Concord, N.H.) and drilled a left-footed shot high into the right corner of the net.  DeHaan's third goal of the season came in the ninth minute.

Richardson squared the match in the 35th minute when she raced in from just inside of half field and beat Southern Maine goalkeeper Alison Bradley (Auckland, New Zealand).  UNE first-year forward Katie Caron (Winslow, Maine) assisted on the play.

Despite trailing for the majority of the first half, the Nor'easters controlled much of the play in the midfield and had numerous quality scoring opportunities.  UNE held a 16-2 advantage in shots for the half.

Richardson notched the game-winner at the 58:42 mark when she directed a low shot into the goal from the middle of the box.  First-year forward Maggie Mahoney (Newburyport, Mass.) and sophomore midfielder Kristin Meza (San Diego, Calif.) recorded assists.

Leigh Engel (Richmondville, N.Y.) made two saves to pick up the win for the Nor'easters, who held a sizeable margin in shots (29-5) and corner kicks (7-2).

Bradley kept the Huskies close all evening, coming up with 17 stops, including several diving saves in the second half.

Both teams return to action this weekend.  UNE travels to Eastern Nazarene College on Saturday (10:00 a.m.), and Southern Maine makes a trip up to Maine Maritime Academy on Sunday (3:00 p.m.).