HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's lacrosse team could not overcome an early deficit against visiting Johnson & Wales University-Providence in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday, afternoon at the Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire. 

THE BASICS 
Score: Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) 15, New England College 7 
Records: Wildcats 1-1, 1-0 GNAC | Pilgrims 0-2, 0-1 GNAC 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• In the whole first quarter and leading into the opening minutes of the second, it was all JWU as they had the game's first five goals as senior attacker Maris DiBeneditto (Southbury, Conn.) recorded an instant hat-trick in that span with scoring in the second, fourth, and fifth tam goals, along with an assist toward the third. 
• NEC would stop the hot start as graduate midfielder Cassie Kelly (Alexandria, Minn.) scored on a man-up goal where sophomore attacker Meadow Gilchrist (Stamford, Conn.) assisted on the play from the endline to shorten the deficit to 5-1. 
• A few minutes later in the second quarter at the 7:54 mark, junior attacker Madeleine Gould (Oakdale, Conn.) snuck in her second goal of the match to get her Wildcats back into momentum. However, 52 seconds later, Gilchrest put in a shot that would help NEC inch closer to their opponent, 6-2. 
• Staying in the busy second period of play JWU's junior midfielder Isabella Nugent (Virginia Beach, Va.) contributed on a scoring play in the sequence of back-and-forths. NEC would get two straight goals thereafter from freshman midfielder Mackenzie McDonald (Boscawen, N.H.) and freshman midfielder Alexis Hornsby (Atkinson, N.H.) that would put the score to 7-4 in favor of the visitors. Gould would end the half with another goal with 1:33 remaining. 
• Gilchrist would open up the second half with a man-down goal at the 10:00 mark which would be followed by a 3-0 run by the Wildcats to put them up 11-5. 
• Trying to make a last push, the 'Grims started the fourth quarter with a man-up goal from senior attacker Jacqueline Nee (Manchester, N.H.) and then later a score from McDonald to cut the JWU lead to four. 
• The Wildcats would rally with four straight goals in the final 10:02 to end up putting the 'Grims away on their home turf, 15-7. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• JWU junior goalkeeper Emma Glyman (Tolland, Conn.) held firm in her team's win by collecting five saves. 
• NEC senior goalkeeper Carleigh Knotts (Dover, Del.) saw a little more action on her end, but racked up an impressive 20 saves on the afternoon. 
• The Wildcats had a clear advantage on total shots in the game with a 50-22 margin. 
• The 'Grims were 20/33 on clears whereas the Wildcats were 21/24. 
• JWU won the draw control battle 16-10. 
• DiBeneditto led the Wildcats with a double hat-trick in six goals, along with four assists, and three ground balls. 
• Gilchrist was the player of the day for the 'Grims as she had two goals with two assists. 

UP NEXT 

• NEC is back on the field on Tuesday, March 12th when they host University of Maine-Farmington at the Don Melander Field at 4:00 PM. 
• JWU plays their next game at home against Framingham State University on March 13th at 4:00 PM. 

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