Box Score HENNIKER, N.H. – April 2, 2014 - The Colby-Sawyer women's lacrosse team was bested by in-state rival New England College 15-11 Wednesday afternoon in North Atlantic Conference play.

BOX SCORE

The win is the first of the season for the Pilgrims who improve to 1-7 overall and 1-0 in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play.  The loss drops the Chargers to 2-5 on the season and 0-2 in the NAC.

NEC's Kasondra Moniz (E. Providence, R.I.) would open the scoring just 26 seconds into the game as she would take the draw down the field and notch an unassisted goal.  Colby-Sawyer would respond as Carly Baker (Beverly, Mass.) would record her team-high 14th goal of the season assisted by Caitlyn Whearty (Hampstead, N.H.) at the 26:44 mark.

The two teams would exchange goals once more before the Pilgrims would come up with three straight goals, including two by Emily Bamberger (Bromfield, Mass.), building a 5-2 lead with 2:24 remaining in the half.  The Chargers would have an answer as they would net two goals over a one minute span, thanks to Nichole Danehy (Billerica, Mass.) and Maryalice Gurnee (South Portland, Maine), slicing the lead to 5-4.  NEC would get a goal back in the final seconds as Allison Granata would slice through the Charger defense netting an unassisted goal sending the Pilgrims into halftime with the 6-4 advantage.

The two teams would battle back-and-forth throughout much of the second half of play as Colby-Sawyer would cut the lead to just 10-9 at the 19:44 mark in the second.  The Pilgrim offense would have an answer as they would go on a 5-1 run rebuilding their lead going up 15-10 with 4:22 to play.  Colby-Sawyer would tack on an additional score late in the half thanks to a Katie Cawley free position goal but it would not be enough as NEC would hold on for the 15-11 victory.

NEC's Emily Bamberger finished the game with four goals and an assist, while Gabriella Bigos (Branford, Conn.) would chip in two goals and pick up a game-high nine draw controls.  Kasondra Moniz (E. Providence, R.I.) would score twice and dish out an assist for the Pilgrims.

Colby-Sawyer was led by Caitlyn Whearty who finished with two goals and two assists, while Sara Berry (Bowdoinham, Maine) and Carly Baker each chipped in two goals for the Chargers.

Picking up the win in net for NEC was Mackenzie Meegan (Phoenix, Ariz.) who finished with eight saves.  In goal for Colby-Sawyer was Kellie Lander (Ossipee, N.H.) who came through with an impressive 16 saves.

NEC finished the game with 39-25 advantage in shots and the slight 26-23 advantage in ground balls.

Colby-Sawyer will take the field again on Saturday, April 5 when they host conference foe Thomas College. NEC returns to action on Saturday, April 5 when they host conference opponent University of Maine Farmington. 

-Story courtesy of NEC sports information