GORHAM, Maine - For the fourth time in five meetings, the Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team suffered a 2-1 loss against the University of Southern Maine, falling by that count when the Huskies scored with 42 seconds left in the USM Ice Arena on Friday in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East play. The Purple Knights moved to 1-11-1 overall and 0-7 in the league, suffering their fourth one-goal loss, and their eighth setback by two goals or less. Southern Maine is now 9-6-1 and 6-1.

First-year Erin Dwyer (Weymouth, Mass./Charles River) turned in her third goal of the year for the Purple Knights, while classmate Abby Burke (Bedford, Mass./Assabet Valley Patriots) notched 30 saves for her third 30-save outing. Sophomore defender Emily Loebs (Acton, Mass./Minuteman Lady Flames) lent an assist.

Senior Erin Banfield (Montpelier, Vt./Vermont Stars) turned in a goal and an assist for the Huskies, and junior Julia Pearl (Essex Junction, Vt./Rice AAA Prep) netted the winner. Classmate Talya Bent (Cranston, R.I./Hebron Academy) posted two assists, and junior Liz Bergstrom (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska Hawks) made eight stops.

During an opening period in which Southern Maine took all five of the shots attempted, Burke and the visitors nearly forged a scoreless draw heading into the locker room, but Banfield struck for the go-ahead tally with 25 seconds remaining. At the 12:25 mark of the second frame, Dwyer found the equalizer, with Loebs assisting, and each team killed off a penalty during the opening 15 minutes of the final stanza. However, less than a minute into another power play, the Huskies received the game-winner from Pearl with just 42 ticks left. Burke vacated her net for the final 16 seconds, but Saint Michael's could not draw even. The rookie goaltender made 19 of her saves in the third period alone, when she nearly blanked the hosts despite their 20-5 advantage in shots.

The Purple Knights head to Plymouth State University tomorrow for a 2 p.m. game.