GORHAM, Maine – Graduate student Katelyn D'Appolonia (Yarmouth, Maine) posted an impressive all-around stat line with four goals, five draw controls, five ground balls and four caused turnovers for the University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's lacrosse team on Saturday in a 12-9 win to open the 2026 season. The Huskies also had hat tricks from graduate student Anna Byers (Milford, Ct./Joseph A. Foran) and junior Eliza Pattershall (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook). All three of Pattershall's goals came in the fourth quarter and gave the Huskies the lead for good.
 
The Hills sisters also had contributions to the win with senior Cierra Hill (Pembroke, N.H./Pembroke Academy) scoring twice and senior Britney Hill (Pembroke, N.H./Pembroke Academy) recording four caused turnovers and two ground balls.
 
Freshman goalie Emma Morrison (Rockland, Maine/Kents Hill) made eight saves to earn the win in her first career start.
 
Worcester State's offense was led by Madigan Kelley with a hat trick and two goals and an assist by Mckayla Fisher.
 
The Records:
Worcester State: 1-1
Southern Maine: 1-0
 
Series History:
The Huskies evened the all-time series 2-2 with today's win. Worcester State had won the past two meetings in the series.
 
The Goaltenders:
Worcester State: Cadence Oleniak (1-1), 60:00, 12 goals allowed, five saves
Southern Maine: Emma Morrision (1-0), 60:00, nine goals allowed, eight saves
 
How It Happened:

• Kelly scored on a free-position shot 47 seconds into the first quarter to put the visitors ahead 1-0 before the Huskies scored a pair of up goals from D'Appolonia and Byers to take the lead. D'Appolonia's goal was a free-position goal, while Byers scored by grabbing her own rebound for a second-chance opportunity.
• Worcester State tied the game at 2-2 on an up goal by Shannon Donahue, but D'Appolonia gave the Huskies a 3-2 lead in the closing seconds of the quarter.
• Cierra Hill opened the second quarter with a goal that was followed by back-to-back scores from Worcester State to tie the score at 4-4. Southern Maine took the lead on Hill's second goal of the quarter and D'Appolonia added another final minute score to send the Huskies to halftime ahead 6-4.
• The Lancers tied the game at 7-7 by outscoring the Huskies 3-1 in the third quarter.
• Pattershall had a natural hat trick with back-to-back-back goals in the fourth quarter to make the score 10-7 in USM's favor. Byers and D'Appolonia then each added another goal while Worcester State had scores from Fisher and Kelley.

 
Inside The Stats:

• Worcester State led 26-22 in total shots, but the Huskies had a 16-15 lead in shots on goal.
• Southern Maine led 21-20 in ground balls.
• The draw controls were 13-10 in favor of the Lancers.
• D'Appolonia led the team in draw controls and ground balls with five of each.
• Cierra Hill had four draw controls.
• Pattershall also had two caused turnovers and four ground balls.

 
Up Next:
The Huskies will host Husson on Tuesday at 4:00 pm.