Women's Lacrosse Falls to Southern Maine, 13-11

By Jim Fenton

GORHAM, Maine -- The Bridgewater State University lacrosse team had its season-opening four-game winning streak halted on Friday afternoon.

The University of Southern Maine scored three goals in a span of 1:59 late in the second half to overtake the Bears, 13-11.

It was the home opener for the Huskies (2-2), who broke a two-game losing streak. BSU had won three road games and one at home before losing to Southern Maine.

Senior attack Camryn Gonsalves (East Bridgewater, Mass.) continued her productive offensive performance, scoring five goals for the Bears. She now has 24 goals in five games.

Junior Meredith Sylvia (Dartmouth, Mass.) added three goals for BSU, which held a 10-9 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Southern Maine was led by junior Katelyn D'Appolonia (Yarmouth, Maine) with four goals while senior Anna Byers (Milford, Conn.) added three goals and an assist.

After trailing, 9-7, with 11:46 remaining, BSU scored three straight goals to take the 10-9 lead with 9:44 to play.

Gonsavles scored with 11:19 and 10:56 to go for the tie and Sylvia added a free position goal just 1:12 later for the lead.

But Southern Maine scored three goals in a row for a 12-10 advantage.

Byers registered the first one with 10:10 left to tie the game while junior Cierra Hill (Pembroke, N.H.) gave the Huskies the lead for good with 4:30 left.

D'Appolonia added her fifth goal with 3:02 remaining for a 12-10 lead, but graduate student Riley Bina (Abington, Mass.) pulled BSU within 12-11 with 2:04 to go.

Byers then scored an insurance goal with 41 seconds remaining for the Huskies.

The game was tied, 2-2, after one period with Sylvia scoring twice for the Bears and D'Appolonia getting both Southern Maine goals.

It was 5-5 at halftime with Gonsalves getting two goals and senior Erin McIntyre (Tewksbury, Mass.) scoring for BSU and Kiaya Gatchell (Portland, Maine) getting two goals and sophomore Eliza Pattershall (Readfield, Maine) one for the Huskies.

BSU fell behind, 6-5, on a D'Appolonia goal 6:28 into the second half, but Gonsalves tied it just over a minute later. The Huskies took a 7-6 lead into the final period on a goal by junior Molly Black (Windham, Maine).

The Bears pulled even just 1:25 into the fourth period on a score by junior Ashley Silva (Rowley, Mass.), but goals by junior Maddie Kinney (Topsham, Maine) and Byers put Southern Maine in front, 9-7, with 11:46 left.

BSU freshman goalkeeper Sara Skaff (Lowell, Mass.) stopped 10 shots while losing for the first time in her collegiate career.

Southern Maine senior Lydia Laslavic (Thomaston, Maine) had five saves.

The Bears play their next two games in Hilton Head, S.C., taking on Husson University of Maine on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and FDU-Florham on Thursday at 9:20 a.m.

Southern Maine will play Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Wednesday at 6 p.m.