BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Junior Shelby Turcotte (Lewiston, Maine) and sophomore Jenna Cyr (Limerick, Maine/Massabesic) each scored four goals as the University of Southern Maine Huskies overcame an early 4-0 deficit to defeat the University of New England Nor'easters 15-13 in a non-conference women's lacrosse game Wednesday afternoon at the Big Blue Turf.

            The game was the season opener for the Huskies.  The Nor'easters dropped their first decision after opening the season with two victories.

            Cyr added two assists to her four goals for a team-high six points.  Turcotte also had an assist along with her four goals.  Sophomore Rosie Forster (Andover, Mass.) and junior Lauren Santo (Salem, N.H.) scored two goals apiece.  Sophomore goalie Kim Vogel (Sanford, Maine) made five saves to earn her first win of the season.

            Junior Cara Cole (Norwood, Mass.) led the Nor'easters' offense with five goals and an assist.  Rookie Gina Newsome (Danbury, Conn.) had four goals and an assist while sophomore Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) chipped in two goals and two assists.  The Nor'easters employed two goalies in the game.  Sophomore Samantha St. Pierre (Mechanic Falls, Maine) played the opening 40 minutes making six saves before giving way to classmate Rachel Lee (York, Maine) who had one save.

            UNE raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening six minutes sparked by two goals from Cole and one each from Tavella and senior Jenna Barton (Wolfeboro, N.H.).  Sophomore Jacki Kelly (Brunswick, Maine) broke the scoring drought for the Huskies with 22:38 to play in the opening half.

            Four straight USM goals, including two from Turcotte, late in the half tied the score at 7-7.  Newsome and USM junior Jess Gassman (Kennebunk, Maine) traded goals in the final two minutes of the half leaving the scored tied (8-8) after 30 minutes.

            The Huskies scored seven of the first nine goals in the second half to build a 15-10 lead with seven minutes to play.  Forster, Cyr and Santo each had two goals for the Huskies.

            Cole (two goals) and junior Emily Lodge (Lyman, Maine/Massabesic) scored three goals within an 89-second span for the Nor'easters to close the gap to two with 3:09 to play, but the Huskies' defense held the home side without a shot the rest of the way to preserve the win.

            Southern Maine will host the University of Maine Farmington in its home opener on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).  UNE will host nationally-ranked Colby College on Sunday (12:30 p.m.).

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