Pelligrinelli Leads Southern Maine Past Husson 13-11

            BANGOR, Maine -- Junior Sarah Pelligrinelli (Southington, Conn.) scored five goals as the visiting University of Southern Maine women's lacrosse team came from behind in the second half to defeat Husson University, 13-11, in a non-conference game Thursday evening at the Winkin Complex.

            The win improved the Huskies overall record to 3-8 while the Eagles fell to 4-5.

            Trailing 6-5 at halftime, the Huskies scored five straight goals to open a 10-6 lead less than eight minutes into the second half.  Senior Nicole LaPlante (South Portland, Maine) had the first and fifth goals in the run.  Junior Anh Nguyen (South Portland, Maine), Pelligrinelli and sophomore Sam Campobasso (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) scored for the Huskies between the two LaPlante goals.

            The Eagle came back midway through the half to score four times in a span of 6:29 to tie the game at 10-10.  Senior Abi Staab (Berlin, Vt./U-32) scored the first two goals for the Eagles.

            LaPlante snapped the tie with her fourth goal of the game coming on a free-position attempt with 10:18 remaining.  Pelligrinelli's fifth marker at 7:40 gave the Huskies a two-goal cushion.

            Junior Alissa Fallon (Kennebunk, Maine) netted her fifth goal of the game for the Eagles with 4:59 to play to make it a one-goal game, but Nguyen gave the Huskies an insurance marker 85 seconds later to clinch the win.

            Pelligrinelli finished the game with six points on her five goals and one assist.  LaPlante added four goals, and Nguyen tallied four points on two goals and two assists.  Junior goalie Caley Presby (Portland, Maine/Deering) stopped 16 shots to earn her third win of the season.  Senior Julia Pearl (Essex Jct., Vt.) had a goal, four ground balls and a game-high six draw controls.

            Fallon led all scorers with five goals and two assists.  Staab had three goals, and senior Michaela Bicknell (West Addison, Vt./Vergennes Union) had a goal, an assist and a game-high seven ground balls for the Eagles.  Senior goalie Jess Poulin (Albion, Maine/Lawrence) stopped 12 shots.

            Southern Maine will be on the road Saturday (12:00 p.m.) for a Little East Conference match at Western Connecticut State University.  Husson will be at home on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) hosting New England College in a North Atlantic Conference game. 

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