HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's lacrosse team won 17-7 against visiting Dean College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Friday evening at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire. It was the first GNAC league victory in school history for the Pilgrims who joined the conference this season.
THE BASICS
Score:                    Dean 7, New England College 17
Records:               Pilgrims 3-2, 1-1 GNAC | Bulldogs 1-5, 0-3 GNAC
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Pilgrims struck first with 8:13 remaining in the first quarter when NEC graduate midfielder Cassie Kelly (Alexandria, Minn.), already tied as the team's leading scorer on the season, beat the defense and found the back of the net for her team-leading eleventh goal of the season, assisted by sophomore attacker Meadow Gilchrist (Stamford, Conn.).
• Then with 4:48 left in the first, NEC senior attacker Nathalie Antigua (North Brunswick, N.J.), last week's GNAC Player of the Week, curled around the defense and shot for her eleventh goal of the year, putting the 'Grims up 2-0.
• Kelly made it 3-0 with 3:13 to go in the opening stanza, as she forced the turnover deep in Dean territory then scooped it up herself and drove, beating the keeper in a one-on-one for her second goal of the game.  
• The Bulldogs answered with 2:50 remaining off a man-up opportunity when Dean junior midfielder Nina Medeiros (Fairhaven, Mass.) scored off a bouncing shot from just beyond the circle, getting the visitors on the board.
• With 1:25 left in the opening quarter, NEC freshman midfielder Mackenzie McDonald (Boscawen, N.H.) made it 4-1 when she scored her ninth goal of the season on a free-position shot as the Pilgrims went into the first intermission up by three. 
• In the second quarter, the 'Grims continued to pour it on, with goals by McDonald and Antigua in the first minute. The Bulldogs battled to pull to within three off back-to-back scores by Dean junior attacker and leading scorer Haley Gaunt (Johnston, R.I.). But NEC would not let up. Kelly's third goal of the game – a free-position shot – followed by a score by Gilchrist with 3:07 to go in the half saw the Pilgrims go back up by five and a flurry of Dean shots in the closing moments were turned away by NEC senior goalkeeper Carleigh Knotts (Dover, Del.) as the hosts entered halftime with an 8-3 lead.
• As the third quarter opened, the Pilgrims continued to enforce their will on the game, scoring four goals in the first two minutes. McDonald scored her third goal off a pass from Antigua, followed by Gilchrist finding senior attacker Jacqueline Nee (Manchester, N.H.) for her sixth goal of the season. After Kelly scored her fourth goal of the game, she'd retrieved a ground ball and fed Antigua for the easy put-away as the 'Grims went up 12-3 with 12:59 remaining in the third quarter. A goal by Antigua a minute later led to a running clock, and the Bulldogs never truly threatened again.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Knotts tallied 15 saves for the Pilgrims on the evening for a .682 save percentage.
• Dean sophomore goalkeeper Allie Stockwell (Burrillville, R.I.) finished with seven stops for the Bulldogs.
• Kelly dominated at both ends of the field; the fifth-year midfielder finished her night with six goals, one assist, 13 caused turnovers and 15 ground balls. Kelly's eleventh caused turnover just prior to the end of the third quarter broke her own school record, that set last season on April 23^rd against Maine-Farmington. At press time, Kelly was leading the GNAC in caused turnovers on the season. Her 15 ground balls likewise tied her own single game record.   
• Gaunt produced a courageous effort for Dean, finishing with four goals off eleven shots-on-goal.
• Antigua finished with five goals and three assists, continuing her outstanding play of late.

UP NEXT

• NEC is back on the field on Tuesday when they travel to Colby-Sawyer College to face the Chargers in a 4:00 p.m. game.
• Dean plays their next game at home against UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday at 4:15 p.m.

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.