Auburn, ME - Central Maine opened their 2023 season on an extremely hot day on the Mustang Turf Complex against the USCAA Division I defending national champion University of Maine at Fort Kent Bengals.   The Bengals were coming off a 0-0 tie against Maine Maritime Academy the day before and the Mustangs had not played in ten days so the expectation was that a well-rested Central Maine team might be able to keep the Bengals in check but it was not to be.    The game started off reasonably well with a back and forth game played at midfield but Fort Kent got on the scoreboard in the 15^th minute of the game on a goal by Julia Audonsdottir, the first of four that she would score on the day.   In the 31^st minute, the Bengals doubled their lead on a goal by Naylea Mendoza.   The half would end with Fort Kent up 2-0.  

The second half began with more urgency on the Mustangs part and the game began to be more evenly played for the first 25 minutes of the second half.   But Audonsdottir would begin her second half hat trick in the 70th minute and would score two more in the 85^th and 89^th minutes to end the game with a 5-0 win for the Bengals.   Mustang keeper Emma Knowles (Manchester, ME) recorded 17 saves in the loss.   The Mustangs managed 1 shot on goal from 7 attempts.  

Central Maine is back in action on Wednesday September 6 on the road at University of Maine at Augusta with a 4pm kickoff.