KEENE, N.H. – The Keene State College Owls defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies by a score of 10-9 on Saturday afternoon in Little East Conference women's lacrosse action. Tess Brown scored the go-ahead goal with 3:53 left in the fourth quarter for the Owls. Brown also assisted on two goals and played tremendous defense with six ground balls and six caused turnovers. Brown's game-winner was assisted by Haile Ratajack, who scored five goals of her own and caused four turnovers. The Owls also had a hat trick from Amethyst Phelps.
 
Junior Anna Byers (Milford, Ct./ Joseph A. Foran) and senior Rachel Shanks (Naples, Maine/Lake Region) led the Huskies with two goals apiece. Senior Kiaya Gatchell (Portland, Maine/Deering) had a pair of assists for Southern Maine.
 
The Records:
Southern Maine: 3-3 (0-1 LEC)
Keene State: 6-3 (1-0 LEC)
 
Series History:
Keene State now leads the all-time series 25-8.
 
The Goaltenders:
Southern Maine: Cece Racine (3-3), 60:00, 10 goals allowed, 15 saves
Keene State: Mabelle Bessette (6-3), 60:00, nine goals allowed, four saves
 
How It Happened:

• The first goal of the game was scored by senior Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) put the Huskies ahead early. Keene State then scored twice in the final 90 seconds to lead 2-1 after one quarter. Phelps had both scores for the Owls with her second coming on a free position shot.
• The Huskies kicked off the second quarter on a 3-0 run with goals from Shanks, senior Paige Rinaldi (Freeport, Maine) and Byers. Gatchell recorded both of her assists in the run while Rinaldi scored on a free position shot.
• The Owls cut the lead to 4-3 with a successful free position shot by Mindy St. Marie but the Huskies countered with one of their own 35 seconds later from Shanks. Ratajack scored back-to-back goals to tie the game at 5-5 at the halfway point.
• Ratajack scored again with a player advantage 1:11 into the new half to give the Owls a 6-5 lead. The lead only lasted for a minute before a free position goal from sophomore Raegan Bechard (Augusta, Maine/Cony) evened the score. Byers put USM ahead 7-6 until Phelps completed her hat trick with an up goal 36 seconds later. The Huskies had another short-lived lead late in the quarter thanks to a strike from Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) before Ratajack tied the score at 8-8 heading into the fourth quarter.
• Ratajack once again gave her team the lead with a free position goal with 7:53 left. The Huskies managed to tie the game at 9-9 50 seconds later when sophomore Elaina Hanselmann (Sanford, Maine) beat the Owl's goalie high for her fourth goal of the season.  
• Brown scored off a feed by Ratajack with just under four minutes left to put Keene State ahead 10-9. The Huskies had a late chance, but Gatchell's shot sailed above the net and a series of turnovers ended the comeback bid.

 
Inside The Stats:

• Keene State outshot Southern Maine 30-18 and led 25-18 in shots on goal.
• The Owls caused 18 turnovers led by Brown's six and Ratajack's four. The Huskies caused nine with McKenna and senior Payton Winslow (Auburn, Maine/St. Anthony's) each causing three.
• The Huskies led in draw controls 13-9. McKenna, Brown and St. Marie each had four. St. Marie led all players in ground balls with eight.
• Freshman Eliza Pattershall (Readfield, Maine/ Maranacook) led the Huskies in ground balls with three.
• Each team scored three free position goals. The Huskies went 3-for-5 on free position shots and the Owls were 3-for-8.
• Shanks has tied Jessica Knight's career points record of 248 and is now four goals away from tying her goals record of 209.
• Gatchell is now second in program history in assists with 55 behind only Aliza Jordan's 70.

 
Up Next:
The Huskies are scheduled to host a non-conference contest against Colby College on Wednesday, April 6 at 6:00 pm.