GORHAM, Maine – The Bridgewater State University Bears won a back-and-forth battle against the University of Southern Maine Huskies by a score of 14-11 on Saturday afternoon in non-conference women's lacrosse action. Savannah Herrington paced the Bridgewater State offensive with five goals, two of which were on free position shots.
 
When and Where: March 18, 2023 – Gorham, Maine – Hannaford Field
 
The Records: BSU: 3-5, Southern Maine: 1-5
 
The Goalies: 
BSU: Laura Giovaniello: 2-1, nine saves, 11 goals allowed, .450 save percentage.
USM: Cece Racine (Lewiston, Maine): 1-4, 11 saves, 14 goals allowed, .440 save percentage.
 
How It Happened:

• The two teams combined for 10 first quarter goals with the Huskies leading 6-4 after the first 15 minutes of action.
• Sophomore Emily Cloutier (Brunswick, Maine) scored three of Southern Maine's six first quarter goals. Freshman Cierra Hill (Pembroke, N.H./Pembroke Academy) scored twice in the quarter and sophomore Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) scored the other Husky goal. Herrington scored two of the Bridgewater State goals in the frame.
• The Bears battled back and outscored the Huskies 4-2 in the second quarter to time the game at 8-8 at the half.
• After a high-scoring first two quarters the two teams combined for just three goals in the third with BSU scoring the first two goals to pull ahead.
• Hill tied the game at 10-10 with a woman-up free position goal with 4:32 left in regulation.
• The Bears answered with a Katie O'Brien goal thirty seconds later to reclaim the lead but freshman Maddie Kinney (Topsham, Maine/ Mt. Ararat) scored 17 seconds later to even the score at 11-all.
• O'Brien retook the lead for Bridgewater State with a goal not long after and the Bears pulled away with two more goals in the final three minutes to escape Gorham with the victory.

 
Inside The Stats:

• Herrington led all players with five goals followed by Cloutier and Hill with three apiece.
• Kinney and graduate student Rachel Shanks (Naples, Maine/Lake Region) each scored twice for the Huskies and on the other side Camryn Gonsalves, Erin McIntyre and O'Brien each scored twice for the Bears.
• Katie Lamothe recorded three assists for BSU.
• Junior Kiaya Gatchell (Portland, Maine/Deering) assisted on two goals for Southern Maine.
• Each side scored three free position goals. BSU won 17 draw controls while losing 11. McIntyre paced the Bears with eight and Hill and McKenna each recorded four for the Huskies.

Up Next: The next game for the Huskies will be on Tuesday at 4PM at Hannaford Field against the University of Maine-Farmington.