Bengals Push Southern Maine to the Limit in 4-3 Road Battle
The University of Maine at Fort Kent women’s soccer team delivered one of its most determined performances of the season Wednesday afternoon, building a halftime advantage and twice holding the lead before the University of Southern Maine rallied late for a narrow 4-3 victory at Hannaford Field.
Madi Martin led the Bengals’ attack with two goals, while Shaniah Johnson added a goal from a direct free kick. Goalkeeper Dreanna Thaw anchored UMFK defensively with 11 saves during a demanding 90-minute performance.
Southern Maine opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but the Bengals needed just 93 seconds to answer. Martin ran onto a ball played over the Huskies’ back line, drove toward the goal and finished the opportunity to bring UMFK level at 1-1. The goal was Martin’s fifth of the season.
UMFK continued applying pressure and moved ahead in the 28th minute after earning a direct free kick. Johnson delivered a well-placed strike toward the far post, beating the Southern Maine defense and giving the Bengals a 2-1 advantage.
Thaw and the UMFK defense protected that lead through the remainder of the opening period, sending the Bengals into halftime ahead by one.
Southern Maine equalized in the 55th minute, but UMFK refused to surrender control of the match. The Bengals capitalized on a defensive mistake in the 67th minute when Martin collected the loose ball and scored her second goal of the afternoon. Her sixth goal of the season restored UMFK’s lead at 3-2.
The advantage held until the 74th minute, when the Huskies found their second equalizer of the game. Southern Maine then scored the deciding goal in the 79th minute to complete its late comeback.
Despite facing sustained pressure, the Bengals remained within striking distance throughout the match. Thaw’s 11 saves repeatedly denied the Huskies and gave UMFK opportunities to protect or reclaim the lead. Offensively, the Bengals made the most of their chances by converting three of their five shots on goal.
The one-goal result represented a significant improvement for UMFK against Southern Maine. After suffering a 5-0 defeat in the 2025 meeting, the Bengals returned this season and produced three goals, carried a lead into halftime and forced the Huskies to battle until the final whistle.
UMFK moves to 4-4 this season and will return to action Thursday, Sept. 24, against Central Maine Community College. The match is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Auburn.