Syracuse, N.Y. - The Le Moyne College women's soccer team was defeated in the rematch from its Division I debut a season ago, falling to the University of Maine on Thursday afternoon.

Maine came off a season in which it finished 4-1-3 in the America East, and 11-2-6 overall, and were looking to start strong. The Black Bears controlled possession early into the first half, earning their first shot on target in the 2nd minute of the game that was saved by freshman goalkeeper Mikayla McPheron (Rome, N.Y./Rome Free Academy). McPheron finished the game with eight total saves, which included a remarkable diving save late in the second half, in her debut with the Dolphins.

Maine would eventually find the back of the net in the 17th minute from a goal scored by junior forward Jordane Pinette.

The center back duo of junior Jasmina Barhoumi (Worms, Germany/Nelly-Sachs-IGS/D'Youville) and redshirt freshman Logan Cookinham (Poland, N.Y./Poland) alongside outside backs senior Katelyn Courcy (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) and freshman Mallory Pietrzak (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) continued to hold their shape, making it difficult for Maine to add another.

The 'Phins continued to hold their own as Maine maintained control of possession for most of the first half, until the Black Bears converted a second goal scored by sophomore midfielder Abbey Thorton. The teams went into the break with Le Moyne trailing 2-0.

Maine went on to hold the majority of possession throughout the second half, firing off three shots within the first five minutes. The Dolphins, however, continued to battle, showing solidarity as a team. Senior midfielder Danielle Casey (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) provided 66 valuable minutes off the bench bolstering the middle of the field on both defense and attack. She earned one of just two shots on the night for the Dolphins, with the other coming from sophomore midfielder Giovanna Vigliotti (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee).

The Black Bears added two more goals before the final whistle to win 4-0 over the Dolphins.

Le Moyne had five players make their debut in the starting XI, which included McPheron, freshman midfielder Ajla Ikeljic (Utica, N.Y. / Frankfurt-Schuyler), freshman Alivia Day (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta), freshman defender Mallory Pietrzak (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield), and sophomore midfielder Kyla Sustad (Willet, N.Y./Cincinnatus/Merrimack). The Dolphins also had three players make their debut off the bench, which included freshman forward Nicole Calle (Providence, R.I./Cumberland), freshman defender Raeny Thompson (Syracuse, N.Y./Cazenovia) and freshman midfielder Sara Ullman (Washington, D.C./Bethesda-Chevy Chase).

The 'Phins will travel to Robert Morris on Sunday, August 18th to take on the Colonials in Moon Township, Pa. on the North Athletic Complex. Action is scheduled to kickoff at 1:00 P.M. on ESPN+.