Box Score Southern Maine Comes from Behind to Defeat Western Connecticut
GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine women's lacrosse team rallied from a four-goal deficit in the second half to defeat Western Connecticut State University 17-16 in Little East Conference action Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
The win snapped a two-game losing skid for the Huskies who improved to 4-8 overall and 1-3 in conference play. The Colonials dropped their second straight to slip to 4-8 overall and 1-3 in LEC play.
Down 11-8 to start the second half, the Huskies fell behind 13-9 in the first four minutes as the Colonials got a free-position goal from sophomore Olivia Kosilla (Ellington, Conn.) in the opening minute and goal from freshman Shayna DeLuca (North Haven, Conn.) at 26:05. The Huskies were able to counter with a goal from junior Lauren Lessard (Lewiston, Maine/Kents Hill).
Southern Maine went on a five-goal surge over the next 11-plus minutes to give the Huskies their first lead of the game at 14-13. Junior Sam Campobasso (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) had three goals in the surge. Junior Heather Everett (Waterboro, Maine/Massabesic) and Lessard had the other goals.
Kosilla tied the game at 14-14 with 12:17 remaining before Everett gave the Huskies a 15-14 lead two minutes later. Junior Destinee Carey (New Milford, Conn.), who led the Colonials with five goals, got an equalizing goal with 9:01 to go.
Everett gave the Huskies the lead for good at 7:32 coming into the play late to take a pass from the right side and beat Western Conn senior goalie Marisa Remley (New Fairfield, Conn.) with her shot to the far side. Senior Sarah Pelligrinelli (Southington, Conn.) added what proved to be the game-winning goal converting a feed from Lessard at 6:08.
The Colonials cut the margin to one with 4:18 to play as sophomore Lindsey Eanniello (Danbury, Conn.) beat USM senior goalie Caley Presby (Portland, Maine/Deering) for her third goal of the game. Ironically, Eanniello's shot would be the last shot in the game.
Southern Maine gained possession of the ball with 1:17 to play as Pelligrinelli forced a Colonial turnover along the sideline at midfield. The Huskies were able to move the ball around and run out the clock to preserve the victory.
Campobasso led Southern Maine scorers with five goals in the game. Everett had five points on three goals and two assists to go along with three ground balls and nine draw controls. Pelligrinelli added three goals, Lessard finished with two goals and two assists, and freshman Meghan Bishop (North Bennington, Vt./Mt. Anthony Union) chipped in two goals and one assist. Presby finished with nine saves.
Carey led all scorers in the game with six points five goals and one assist. Kosilla had four goals, one assist and nine draw controls. Eanniello scored three times. Remley stopped 11 shots.
Southern Maine is back in action on Tuesday (4:00 p.m.) playing at LEC rival Plymouth State University. Western Connecticut will host the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for an LEC game Monday evening (7:00 p.m.).
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