FARMINGTON, Maine - Prior to the beginning of today's women's lacrosse game, the University of Maine at Farmington women's lacrosse team had the opportunity to honor their three seniors, Kaya Backman (South Portland, Maine), Emma Brown (Naples, Maine), and Emily Stinson (Alfred, Maine) for their contributions to the program. The Pilgrims came away with the victory, 15-6, out scoring the Beavers 8-1 in the 2nd half.

The Beavers got the scoring going early in the opening minute as Ashlee Farrar (South Paris, Maine) converted a free position to take an early 1-0.

Meadow Gilchrist responded two and a half minutes later with an unassisted goal to tie the game at one apiece. Gilchrist found Gina Sciortino in front of the goal and Sciortino ripped one to the back of the net to give the Pilgrims their 1st lead of the game. 

After a turnover by the Pilgrims in their offensive zone, Lauren Girouard (Concord, Vermont) found Backman who found the back of the net on a perfectly executed fast break to tie the game up at two. 

Nathalie Antigua and Gilchrist each converted free position shots forty seconds apart to give the Pilgrims a 4-2 advantage. 

After a beautiful defensive play from Stinson she beat one defender before dishing to Ruby McMinis (Wells, Maine) who scored her 18th goal of the season. 

Trailing 4-3 to begin the 2nd quarter, McMinis found the back of the net for the 2nd time just 1:45 into the quarter to knot the game up at four. 

Cassie Kelly converted a free position shot less than two minutes later to regain the lead for New England College. Mackenzie McDonald scored a minute later on another feed from Gilchrist to make it a 6-4 game. 

Annalissa Crooks drew a free position opportunity, and scored to take a 7-4 lead. 

Emma Bourget (Gardiner, Maine) scored an unassisted goal in the final minute to help the Beavers pull within two heading into halftime. 

McMinis opened the 2nd half the same way that she opened the 2nd quarter, with and unassisted goal, pulling the Beavers within one at 7-6.

New England College then scored the next eight goals to put the game away. Cassie Kelly scored three of the eight while Gilchrist added a pair during the run for the Pilgrims. 

McMinis picked up a hat-trick to lead the Beavers offensively. Kate Nowell (York, Maine) made seven saves in net for Farmington. Bourget tallied a team-high five ground balls.

Gilchrist finished with four goals and two assists while Kelly added four goals of her own and one assist to lead the Pilgrims. Carleigh Knotts picked up 11 saves in net.

UP NEXT 

The Beavers will travel to Northern Vermont-Lyndon next Saturday for a North Atlantic Conference contest with a 1 PM start.