University of Southern Maine Soccer Goalkeeper Breanna Atwood Becomes First All-American in Women’s Soccer Program History
After another record-setting season, two-time Little East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year (2022, 20223) senior Breanna Atwood (Franklin, Mass.) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies’ women’s soccer team can another accolade to her resume becoming the first United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-American in Huskies’ women’s soccer program history.
Earning a spot on the USC All-American second team, Atwood is the 20th individual from the Little East Conference to earn USC/NSCAA All-America honors since the conference’s sponsorship of women’s soccer in 1990. One of five members of the 2023 Little East Conference Champion Huskies’ women’s soccer team to earn CSC All-Region honors, Atwood along with teammates Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) and Mia Sargent (Portland, Maine/Deering) were named first team All-Region. Atwood is now one of three individuals to earn first team All-Region honors in program history.
Named the LEC’s Goalkeeper of the Week five times in 2023, Atwood broke her own single-season shut out record (12), and established a new career mark for shutouts amassing 27 in 59 career games. Atwood earned her record-setting 12th shutout of the 2023 season, backstopping the Huskies to their first-ever NCAA tournament win, a 2-0 victory over No. 10 Rowan University, making seven saves - including a penalty stop.
During the 2023 season, Atwood established a career-high for saves in a game, making 16 on the road in a 2-1 win over Colby College on September 12. Seven days later, Atwood followed up that performance with a 10-save effort in a 1-0 win over Bowdoin College, marking the Huskies first win over the Polar Bears in series history (30 games.). During the semifinals and championship game of the Little East Conference tournament, Atwood combined for 11 saves for two shutouts in consecutive 3-0 wins over UMass Boston and Western Connecticut, respectively.
Making a career-high 102 saves during the season, Atwood established a career-best mark in goals against average finishing the 2023 season with an outstanding 0.709 GAA, and an equally as strong .872 save percentage. At the conclusion of her season, Atwood was ranked in NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer as 10th in shutouts (12), 13th in total saves (102), 23rd in saves per game (6.5), 31st in save percentage (.872) and 44th in goals against average (.709).
Owning a career record of 42-10-6, Atwood has a remarkable 0.840 career goals against average and an 85.4 career save percentage. She is on pace to be the program’s all-time leader in career goals against average. A two-time first team All-Little East Conference goalkeeper, Atwood is a two-time Academic All-District student-athlete and is working towards a degree in Exercise Science.
The Huskies finished the 2023 season with a record of 16-2-4 and an undefeated mark of 6-0-2 in the Little East Conference. Claiming the LEC’s regular season title for the second consecutive season (2022, 2023), Southern Maine is the back-to-back Little East Conference Tournament Champions (2022, 2023).