GORHAM, Maine – Brittany Smith's first career-game winning goal just 1:03 into overtime gave the Sacred Heart women's ice hockey team a 2-1 victory over Southern Maine on Wednesday afternoon at the USM Ice Arena, completing a sweep of the Huskies after a 2-0 shutout on Tuesday. The win is the third in four games for the Pioneers, who are now an even 5-5-2 on the year and unbeaten in four of their past five.

Smith's unassisted score was the first and only shot of the overtime period. It was the sophomore's first goal of the season and the second of her career.

Southern Maine (2-9-1) forced overtime with a third period goal from Kaleigh Heath that snapped a stretch of 107:49 scoreless minutes by SHU goaltenders over the two games. It was the lone blemish against Amanda Fontaine, who made 20 saves for her first win of the season. 

Courtney Davis opposed Fontaine with 14 saves in the loss, as USM outshot Sacred Heart 21-16, although the Pioneers would hold a 10-4 advantage after the second period. The two teams went a combined 0-9 on the power play with the Huskies killing off five. After those nine infractions in the first two periods, there were zero in the third period and overtime.

Sacred Heart's lone shot of the first period opened the scoring, as Casey Stathopoulos set up Heather Daley's second goal of the yaer for a 1-0 lead with 3:03 remaining. It was Stathopoulos' team-leading sixth assist of the season. The two goalies stopped a combined 13 shots in a scoreless second.

SHU continues its busy January on Friday against Plymouth State at the DoubleTree Hockey Classic hosted by St. Michael's.  The opening faceoff is scheduled for 4 pm.