KEENE, N.H. – Chase Gengras single-handedly matched the University of Massachusetts-Boston Beacons for the Keene State College women's lacrosse team on Saturday afternoon as she tallied a career-high seven goals as the Owls defeated UMB, 13-7, in the first ever matchup between the two teams.

Records

• Keene State: 5-1 (1-0 LEC)
• UMass-Boston: 4-1 (0-1 LEC)

Postgame Interview (Coach Wyant)
Postgame Interview (Chase Gengras)

How it Happened
UMB jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening 12:09 of the game with the Beacons tallying a free position goal and a man-up goal en route to the early lead. With 44 seconds left in the opening quarter, KSC tallied their first goal of the game as Amethyst Phelps assisted Lola Smith to cut the Beacons' lead to 3-1 heading into the second quarter.
 
Angelina Mazzone scored her second goal of the game for the Beacons to open the second, 38 seconds into the quarter to take a 4-1 lead, but the Owls responded with five-straight goals the rest of the quarter to take a 6-4 lead heading into the half. Tess Brown won the ensuing draw control and led to Lola Varricchione responding to the Beacons' goal with her own, 25 seconds after Mazzone's goal. The Owls' transition defense helped them score their next two goals as Phelps caused a turnover on a UMB clear that led to Gengras' first goal of the game and Brown caused a turnover shortly after leading to Varricchione assisting Anna Maccarini to tie the game up at four apiece with 5:39 remaining in the half. Maccarini tallied her second goal of the game less than a minute later to give KSC the lead and after Gengras won the draw control for the Owls. Varricchione caused a turnover on defense for the Owls later in the half that led Gengras to score her second goal of the game with under two minutes remaining in the second quarter to give KSC a 6-4 lead into the half.
 
After both teams traded a goal in the opening 7:53 of the third, with Gengras scoring her third of the game for the Owls and Hannah Rich scored her second of the game for the Beacons, KSC responded right back with another goal as Varricchione assisted Lola Smith to put KSC up 8-5 with 6:15 left in the third. The rest of the quarter, the Owls' goalkeeper, Mabelle Bessette, made four more saves, including a pair of free position shots saved, and Maccarini assisted Gengras on her fourth goal of the game to give KSC a 9-5 lead heading into the fourth.
 
UMB tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, but they were unable to as the Owls outscored the Beacons 4-2 in the 15 minutes of play. The Owls' first two goals in the fourth came as a result of Varricchione causing a Beacon turnover as Brown scored KSC's 10th goal and Lola Smith assisted Gengras for the Owls' 11th goal of the day. After a Bessette saved shot, KSC scored their third goal in a row in the quarter as Hayden Smith assisted Gengras for her sixth of the game with 6:51 remaining in the game. The rest of the contest, UMB scored two more goals, but it was not enough, as Gengras tallied her seventh of the game to give KSC a 13-7 win on the day.
 
Inside the Crease

• With the win, KSC improves to 1-0 in the all-time series between the two teams.
• Gengras tallied a career-high seven goals for seven points in the contest.
• Three Owls has three points as Varricchione had a goal and two assists, while Lola Smith and Maccarini both tallied a pair of goals and an assist in the win.
• Brown and Varricchione both tied for the game-high in ground balls with five and caused turnovers with four apiece. Varricchione also tied for the game-high with four draw controls in the contest.
• Bessette made eight saves on 15 shots faced for the Owls, while the Beacon goaltenders recorded 10 saves on 23 shots faced.

 
Up Next


Keene State's next game is on the road as the Owls travel to take on Fitchburg State for their next contest on Wednesday, March 19, at 6:00 PM.
UMass-Boston's next game is on their spring break against Goucher College in Baltimore, Md., on Wednesday, March 19, at 2:00 PM.