GORHAM, Maine -- The visiting Keene State College Owls came back from three goals down early in the second half and went on to defeat the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 11-9, in Little East Conference women's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
            The win was the fourth straight for the Owls, and improved their record to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play.  The Huskies dropped to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
            Keene State, down 8-5 after a goal from USM senior Alex Farley (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) with 28:21 remaining in the second half, got goals from four players to run off six consecutive goals over an 11-minute span to take the victory. Junior Brigid Casey (Mount Vernon, N.H. Souhegan) and sophomore Mindy St. Marie (St. Albans, Vt./Bellows Free Academy) each had two goals in the run.
            The Owls were led offensively by sophomore Haile Ratajack (Brewster, N.Y.) who had four goals and three assists for seven points.  Ratajack also had four draw controls and scooped up five ground balls.  Senior Ali Daisy (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham), St. Marie and Casey all finished with two goals.  Daisy also dished out two assists.
            Farley had four goals to lead the Huskies.  Junior Rachel Shanks (Naples, Maine/Lake Region) contributed three goals and two assists, and senior Megan Violette (Portland, Maine/Deering) chipped in with two goals.
            The opening half was back and forth on the scoreboard with neither team leading by more than two goals.  A run of three USM goals from Shanks and Farley (two) erased a 3-2 deficit to give the Huskies a 5-3 lead with 12 minutes left in the half.
            Ratajack scored twice in a span of 33 seconds to tie the game at 5-5.  Violette restored the lead to the home side, and Shanks converted with 15 ticks remaining to give USM a 7-5 lead at the break.
            After Farley's goal gave USM its biggest lead of the day at 8-5, the Owls went to work.  Casey ignited the run of six consecutive KSC goals that would give the visitors an 11-8 lead with 14:01 to play.  Shanks' goal with 10:38 remaining was the final marker of the game.
            Keene State finished with a 28-20 edge in shots, including a 14-8 advantage in the second half.  The Owls dominated around the center circle taking 15 of 21 draw controls.
            Southern Maine heads into the final week of the regular season traveling to Plymouth State University on Tuesday.  Keene State is scheduled to travel to Castleton University on Wednesday for a Little East game.