Lacrosse Downed by Southern Maine, 17-4

GORHAM, Maine - Grad student Rachel Shanks (Naples, Maine) scored six goals to propel Southern Maine to a 17-4 win over Wellesley College lacrosse on Wednesday at Hannaford Field.

In addition to Shanks' six goals and two assists, Junior Kiaya Gatchell (Portland, Maine) had two goals, five assists, and four ground balls for the Huskies (4-5). Sophomore goalie Lydia Laslavic (Thomaston, Maine) saved four shots and classmate Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) won seven draw controls.

Junior Gabrielle Shell (Upper Arlington, Ohio) scored a hat-trick for the Blue (2-6) while first year Chloe Guntrip (Irvine, Calif.) won three draw controls and caused three turnovers. First year goalie Anna Blake Patrick (Portland, Ore.) stopped six shots for Wellesley.

Gatchell had two early goals and an assist as the USM ran out to a 3-0. The Blue got on the board just before the 6:00 minute mark of the first with a goal from Shell. A pair of goals from Shanks and first year Maddie Kinney (Topsham, Maine) upped to Huskies' lead to 5-1 after one quarter.

The Huskies brought their lead up to 10-2 by halftime with Kinney scoring three more goals and Gatchell earning a third and fourth assist. Shell scored a second goal for the Blue later in the quarter. The Huskies outshot the Blue 23-5 in the first half.

USM led 15-3 after three quarters with Shanks adding three goals and an assist to her day in there third. Sophomore Ryan Boone (Scotch Plains, N.J.) gave the Blue their third goal of the game.

Shell notched a hat-trick in the fourth for the Blue. Sophomore Emily Cloutier (Brunswick, Maine) scored a pair of late goals as USM finished up a 17-4 game.

USM outshot Wellesley 35-13 on the game with the Huskies picking up 26 ground balls to the Blue's 15.

The Blue head home Saturday to host New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Coast Guard at 11:30 AM on Saturday. The Huskies travel to Castleton at 12:00 PM on Saturday.