GORHAM, Maine – Trailing 11-8 entering the fourth quarter, the University of Southern Maine Huskies scored six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to defeat the Husson University Eagles 14-11 in a non-conference women's lacrosse game. Huskies' sixth-year senior Rachel Shanks (Naples, Maine/Lake Region) scored five goals on the day and broke the program record of 209 career goals set by Jessica Knight. Shanks now 211 career goals.
 
Junior Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) scored the game-tying goal 1:18 into the fourth quarter and finished the day with four goals. Junior Anna Byers (Milford, Ct./ Joseph A. Foran) netted the game-winner and had two goals and an assist in the game.
 
The Records:
Southern Maine: 4-5
Husson: 3-7
 
Series History:
The Huskies are now a perfect 10-0 all-time against the Eagles. The first game in the series was a 14-3 win for Southern Maine on April 21, 2011.
 
The Goaltenders:
Southern Maine: Cece Racine, 30:00, six goals allowed, nine saves
Southern Maine: Lydia Laslavic (1-0), 30:00, five goals allowed, three saves
Husson: Emma Begin (3-6), 60:00, six goals allowed, nine saves
 
How It Happened:

• Shanks scored the first two goals of the game and had the only scores of the first quarter as Racine held the Eagles scoreless while making four saves. Begin made three saves for Husson to keep the game close after the first 15 minutes.
• McKenna made the score 3-0 early in the second quarter after racing down to field and ripping a shot past Begin for a down-goal. Husson countered with two quick goals from Sophia Gomez and Averi Baker to cut the lead to 3-2 before Shanks and McKenna answered with goals for the Huskies. Shanks' goal, which was assisted by senior Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine), tied Knight's record of 209.
• The Eagles scored two free-position goals in the span of 47 seconds to make the score 5-4 with 6:13 left in the half. Natalie Whitten and Gomez had the goals for Husson. Their goals provided a shift in momentum as Baker then tied the game at 5-5 and added another goal with nine seconds left in the half to give the Eagles their first lead of the game. Her second goal was set up by a free-position attempt awarded to Laela Martinez, who recorded the assist after feeding the ball to Baker.
• Husson scored twice in the first 1:10 of the second half off goals by Gomez and Riley Maynard to extend their lead to 8-5. However, the Huskies rallied for three straight goals to tie the game at 8-8 with just under six minutes left in the quarter. Senior Kiaya Gatchell (Portland, Maine/Deering) started the run, followed by goals from Shanks and Byers. It took all of 27 seconds for the Eagles to regain the lead on a free-position goal from Martinez. Husson scored on both of their next free-position shots as well to enter the fourth quarter ahead 11-8. Azabell Assaf and Baker recorded the successful conversions.
• Shanks sparked the Huskies 6-0 fourth quarter run by shoveling a backhanded shot past Begin for her fifth tally of the game. Gatchell cut the lead to a single goal with a free-position strike 27 seconds later. McKenna then evened the score at 11-11 with 13:42 left in regulation. Byers then put the Huskies ahead for good after collecting a pass from Shanks and firing a shot into the net.
• Byers then gave the Huskies a bit of breathing room by setting up sophomore Raegan Bechard (Augusta, Maine/Cony) in front of the net for a goal that extended the lead to 13-11. McKenna added a free-position goal with 4:55 left and the Huskies' defense and Laslavic held off the Eagles for the come-from-behind win.

 
Inside The Stats:

• The Huskies' win was fueled by an incredible fourth quarter that saw them win six-of-seven draw controls and outshot the Eagles 13-4. McKenna accounted for three of the six draw control wins and had a total of nine for the game to lead the Huskies to a 17-12 advantage in the category. Rinaldi added five and Byers had three.
• Gatchell and Gould led the Huskies with five ground balls each. Both played solid defense with Gatchell causing four turnovers, Gould causing three, and sixth-year senior Payton Winslow (Auburn, Maine/St. Anthony's) causing two and disrupting a shot attempt late in the game.
• Husson scored on five of their 12 free-position shots while the Huskies went 3-for-9.
• Each team committed 23 turnovers.

 
Up Next:
The Huskies will play UMass Dartmouth at 3:00 pm at home on Saturday. The game will be the team's Morgan's Message mental health awareness game.