HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's lacrosse team lost 13-11 against visiting Rivier University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire in a matchup of two of the surprise teams of the conference this season.
THE BASICS
Score: Rivier 13, New England College 11
Records: Pilgrims 5-7, 3-3 GNAC | Raiders 7-3, 6-1 GNAC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- As the first rains of the day started to fall on The Don, the two teams battled each other from the opening whistle, trading goals in the opening minutes with Rivier senior attacker Sarah LaChance (Chelmsford, Mass.) striking first on a free-position shot only for NEC to reel off consecutive goals with sophomore midfielder Carmela Goodwin (Lebanon, N.H.) and graduate midfielder Annalisa Crooks (Nantucket, Mass.) both finding the back of the net as the hosts took their first lead of the day. LaChance would tie it up again with 7:57 left in the first, and Rivier first-year Keegan McGaheran (Potsdam, N.Y.) made it 3-2 with 4:32 remaining in the quarter as the visitors regained the lead. Then with 3:27 to go and down a player due to a penalty, the 'Grims would again turn to Goodwin who took a pass from Crooks and burst through the Raider defense, scoring her 36th goal of the season and her second man-down goal of the season. The opening stanza came to an end with the score tied at 3-3.
- The second quarter opened much as the first had, with Rivier taking an early lead only to immediately be answered by a determined NEC counterattack. First-year attacker Ashlynn Ledoux (Hooksett, N.H.) gave the Raiders the lead with her 20th goal of the season with junior attacker Mackenzie McDonald (Boscawen, N.H.) then scoring her 32nd goal of the season just 1:33 into the second, tying it up at 4-4. Later down by one, Goodwin scored back-to-back goals for the 'Grims to put them back up 6-5. Just when it seemed like NEC might start to pull away, Rivier clamped down on the defensive end, with LaChance and senior defender Cassie Hemmerdinger (Pelham, N.H.) scoring goals in the closing minutes of the half to tie the game at 8-8 going into halftime. The combined ten goals in the second quarter had brought the teams no closer to determining a winner.
- As the rain continued to fall, the third quarter saw scoring at a premium as both teams sought to assert themselves on the defensive end. NEC junior attacker Meadow Gilchrist (Stamford, Conn.) scored two goals for the 'Grims, but the hosts nevertheless found themselves trailing by one entering the final quarter, 11-10.
- In the fourth quarter, the Raiders started to pull away. River sophomore attacker Sofia Cebrero (Hudson, N.H.) scored to increase the lead to two just 16 seconds in. Hemmerdinger made it 13-10 with 8:41 to go in the game, her seventh of the season.
- Desperate to keep her team in the game, McDonald took a pass from Gilchrist and scored with 3:47 left, cutting the lead to two and drawing a penalty to give the 'Grims a much-needed two-minute player-advantage. But that was as close as the would come as the Raiders made their stops down the stretch, working the clock to their advantage to escape with the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- NEC junior goalkeeper Isabella Marzano (Warwick, R.I.) tallied 13 saves on the day for the Pilgrims. At press times, the junior is ranked second in the GNAC in saves on the season in just her first year of playing in net.
- Rivier senior goalkeeper Rachel Hinkley (Swedesboro, N.J.) finished with twelve stops for the Raiders.
- Goodwin, already the 'Grims leading goal-scorer entering the day, totaled four goals for the game for NEC, giving her 38 on the season.
- LaChance and Hemmerdinger led the Raiders' offensive efforts with four goals and one assist apiece.
- Crooks had four assists for the Pilgrims to go along with one goal. Gilchrist, March's Pilgrim of the Month, filled the stat line with two goals, four assists, four ground balls and two caued turnovers.
- NEC finished with a 16-11 edge in draw controls for the day, with Gilchrist leading the way with eleven. The Raiders had a decisive advantage in clears, going 19-of-24 compared to 13-of-22 for the Pilgrims. Turnovers were 28-19 in favor of the visitors.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the field on Tuesday when they travel to Lasell University for a 5:00 p.m.game.
- Rivier plays their next game at home on Tuesday when they host Simmons in a 7:00 p.m. contest.
