GORHAM, Maine – Junior Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) and senior Rachel Shanks (Naples, Maine/Lake Region) each scored five goals for University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's lacrosse team in a14-13 win over local rival University of New England. McKenna also had an assist in the game. The Huskies withstood a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by the Nor'easters, who outscored them 6-2 over the final 15 minutes. Senior goalie Cece Racine (Lewiston, Maine) denied the Nor'easters twice over the final two minutes to secure the win for the Huskies.
 
Emily Jacobs led UNE with a goal and three assists while Barrie Guertin recorded a goal and two helpers. Molly Henderson, Nicole DePodesta, Emma Collingwood and Micaela Jacobs each scored twice for UNE.
 
The Huskies also had two goals from sophomore Raegan Bechard (Augusta, Maine/Cony). McKenna and senior Paige Rinaldi (Freeport, Maine) tied for the most draw controls on the team with six apiece. Rinaldi also contributed a goal and an assist for Southern Maine.
 
The Records:
UNE: 0-2
Southern Maine: 1-1
 
Series History:
The Huskies and Nor'easters have now played 20 times with UNE leading 13-7. The Huskies have now won three of the last four meetings.
 
The Goaltenders:
UNE: Jenna Trafford (0-2), 60:00, 14 goals allowed, eight saves
Southern Maine: Cece Racine (1-1), 60:00, 13 goal allowed, 11 saves
 
How It Happened:

• The first quarter was all Huskies started by McKenna winning the open draw control and racing to down the field to set up a Bechard goal 13 seconds into the contest. The Huskies added four more unanswered goals before Jacobs finally ended the up with a free position goal with 2:31 left in the quarter. Shanks closed out the period with another Southern Maine, her second of the quarter.
• UNE took control in the second quarter with four goals over the first four minutes to cut the USM lead to 6-5. The Huskies started to widen the gap with five consecutive goals to end the half leading 11-5. McKenna scored twice in the run and Rinaldi, Shanks and Bechard also had goals.
• Both offenses cooled down a bit in the third quarter as only three goals were scored. The Nor'easters did, however, cut the lead to 12-7 with a down from Siobhan Smith with four seconds left in the quarter.
• The Nor'easters rallied in the final minutes of the game and cut the lead to 14-13 with a free position goal from Jacobs with 1:53 left on the clock. Sydney Balotin was a key contributor to the late surge with a goal, an assist and two draw controls.
• A Southern Maine yellow card resulted in a free position attempt for UNE. Instead of shooting, Jacobs opted to lob a pass across to Collingwood and Racine shifted over to save Collingwood's shot.
• UNE had another free position attempt with three seconds left after Balotin was fouled. She faced Racine head-on and charged forward before firing a shot that was saved by Racine's stick.

 
Inside The Stats:

• The Huskies led 18-13 in draw controls thanks to the efforts of McKenna, Rinaldi and junior Anna Byers (Milford, Ct./ Joseph A. Foran).
• Junior Emily Cloutier (Brunswick, Maine) had a goal and an assist for the Huskies.
• UNE was 3-for-9 on free position shots and the Huskies went 4-for-8.
• Southern Maine was carded seven times with five yellow and two greens. UNE had two yellow cards and a green card.
• UNE led in ground balls 23-22 and caused turnovers 11-10.

 
Up Next:
The Huskies will host Worcester State University on March 9 at Hannaford Field.