GORHAM, Maine – Graduate student Rachel Shanks (Naples, Maine/Lake Region) scored five goals and recorded an assist for the University of Southern Maine women's lacrosse team in a 15-2 victory over New England College on Monday evening in the team's home opener. Shanks was one of five Huskies to record multiple points in the contest to help lead the Huskies to their first win of the season.
 
When and Where: March 13, 2023 – Gorham, Maine – Hannaford Field
 
The Records: Southern Maine: 1-3; NEC: 1-4
 
The Goalies: 
USM: Cece Racine (Lewiston, Maine): 1-2, seven saves, one goal allowed, .875 save percentage.  
USM: Lydia Laslavic (Thomaston, Maine/Oceanside): three saves, one goal allowed, .750 save percentage.
NEC: Carleigh Knotts: 1-4, eight saves, 15 goals allowed, .348 save percentage.
 
How It Happened:

• The Huskies scored four times in the first quarter with Shanks scoring the first two, freshman Cierra Hill (Pembroke, N.H./Pembroke Academy) scoring the third and sophomore Emily Cloutier (Brunswick, Maine) netting the fourth with an assist from Shanks.
• Shanks scored 19 seconds into the second quarter and added another goal about halfway through the frame. The Huskies scored five total goals in the second and kept the Pilgrims off the scoreboard until Cassie Kelly scored off her own rebound after Racine stopped her initial free position shot.
• Shanks, sophomore Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine), Cloutier and junior Kiaya Gatchell (Portland, Maine/Deering) each scored goals as the Huskies outscored the Pilgrims 4-0 in the third.
• Mackenzie McDonald scored the second NEC goal of the game five minutes into the final quarter and the Huskies added two more goals off freshman's Molly Black (Windham, Maine) second goal of the game and the first career goal from freshman Raegan Bechard (Augusta, Maine/Cony).

Inside The Stats:

• Shanks' six points led all players with Cloutier (three goals) and Hill (goal and two assists) tying for second.
• Black (two goals) and Gatchell (goal and an assist) each recorded two points.
• Sophomore Anna Byers (Milford, Ct./ Joseph A. Foran) also scored for the Huskies.
• The Huskies benefited from 23 NEC turnovers and forced 16.
• Southern Maine had a slight edge on draw controls at 11-10 with McKenna leading the Huskies with five and Kelly collecting seven for the Pilgrims.

Up Next: The Huskies will look to build off of the win on Thursday when they travel to Northampton, Mass. to face Smith College to make up a game that was originally scheduled for February 25. The game will begin at 1PM.