Bangor, ME --- Sophomore Stephanie Eaton (Pittston, ME) and senior Megan Clement (Brunswick, ME) both contributed five goals apiece for Husson to help the Eagles defeat Worcester State, 16-14, this afternoon in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Husson's Boucher Field.
Husson (2-0) also was led by second-year Michelle Rancourt (Lewiston, ME) and senior Alex Huffman (N. Hampton, NH) both contributed two markers apiece while Huffman paced the Eagle defense with 13 ground balls and a trio of caused turnovers.
Sophomore goalie Kaleigh Morneau (Twin Mountain, NH) stopped 14 of the 26 shots she saw on net.
The Lancers were propelled by senior teammates Colleen Manning (Plainville, MA) and Carley MacIntyre (Townsend, MA) who each scored four goals each as freshman Shawna Strazzere (Billerica, MA) and junior Meagan Sheehan (Dunstable, MA) both finished with hat tricks.
MacIntyre picked up a career-best 11 ground balls while second-year Daryl Powell (Beverly, MA) registered six. Junior Rhetta Guimond (Royalson, MA) also pitched in with three ground balls and a pair of forced miscues.
Husson started out the contest strong with a 5-2 run over the first 15 minutes before Sheehan notched three of the next four goals for the Lancers, who would take over a 6-5 advantage at the 8:25 mark.
The Eagles though would regain the lead and close out the period with four consecutive tallies for the 9-6 lead at the break.
Over the first eight minutes of the second stanza, Husson went on a 4-1 spurt with the last two markers from Clement as the Eagles would lead 13-7 at the 22:28 mark.
But then Worcester State would get back into the game by rattling off four straight goals – with two from Manning – over the next five minutes to get within two goals with 10:15 remaining in regulation (14-12).
After the Lancers were whistled for a yellow card, Rancourt helped make the visitors pay with a free position goal at 7:31 for the three marker edge.
Down a man, MacIntyre sent in a free position marker 90 seconds later, but Clement would come up with clutch score to give Husson a three goal margin with 4:15 left (16-13).
MacIntyre would net her fourth goal of the game with 3:07 remaining, but the Eagles would hold Worcester State to just one shot over the course of the rest of the game to help them earn the triumph.
Despite losing the contest, WSU led in shots, 29-28, while Husson had the 40-39 edge in ground balls. Clement would come off the bench to score four of her five goals in the final period as she also finished with an assist.
The total of 39 ground balls is ties for the third-most total since ground balls were first officially recorded in 2006. They tied the mark set by the 2009 squad against Fitchburg State.
Worcester State will host Rhode Island College on Tuesday next week at 7 PM while the Eagles continue their four-game home stand with Gordon at 4 o'clock on Monday.