GORHAM, Maine – Despite five goals from sixth-year senior Rachel Shanks (Naples, Maine/Lake Region), the University of Southern Maine Huskies women's lacrosse team suffered an 18-10 setback against Little East Conference foe Plymouth State University. The Panthers were led by Amelia Thomas with seven goals and two assists. Julia Donovan added four goals and Tarryn O'Brien had a hat trick and an assist.
 
Senior Kiaya Gatchell (Portland, Maine/Deering) had three assists for the Huskies. Senior Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) and junior Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) each scored twice. Sophomore Molly Black (Windham, Maine) recorded a goal and an assist.
 
The Records:
Plymouth State: 7-6 (2-2 LEC)
Southern Maine: 5-6 (1-3 LEC)
 
Series History:
The Huskies and Panthers have now played 35 times with the Panthers leading 32-3. Plymouth State have now won the last five games against the Huskies including a 11-8 win the semifinals of last season's LEC tournament.
 
The Goaltenders:
Plymouth State: Margie Black (7-6), 60:00, 10 goals allowed, four saves
Southern Maine: Cece Racine (3-6), 60:00, 18 goals allowed, 14 saves
 
How It Happened:

• O'Brien scored twice in the first two minutes and the Panthers never looked back as they raced out to a 4-0 lead before got the Huskies on the board in the first quarter. Plymouth State added a fifth goal in the final minute of the quarter to bring the lead to 5-1.
• The Panthers went up 8-1 five minutes into the second quarter with two goals by Donovan and one from Thomas. The Huskies responded with a 4-0 run to cut the lead to 8-5 before two late goals gave the Panthers a 10-5 halftime lead. Black, Gould, McKenna and Shanks had the goals for the Huskies.
• Plymouth State scored another five goals in the third quarter while allowing two goals to the Huskies. Thomas had two goals and an assist in the quarter while Shanks scored both Southern Maine goals.
• The two sides traded 3-0 runs in the fourth quarter for the 18-10 final.

 
Inside The Stats:

• The Panthers outshot the Huskies 44-12 in the game benefitted from 26 Southern Maine turnovers.
• Thomas caused four turnovers and Grace Campo and O'Brien each caused three. The Panthers had 16 caused turnovers as a team.
• The draw controls were nearly even but Plymouth State finished with a slight 16-15 lead. Jenna Stowell had a game-high nine for Plymouth State while McKenna led the Huskies with eight. Junior Zowie Cheetham-Wilmot (Biddeford, Maine) had three for the Huskies.

 
Up Next:
The Huskies will return to action on Friday on the road at Eastern Connecticut State at 5:00 pm.