Allie Bratton and Shaunna Kaplan scored three goals apiece to lead the 19th-ranked UNH women's lacrosse team to a 11-8 victory against the University of Massachusetts in Wednesday afternoon's non-conference action at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
New Hampshire, which outscored the hosts 7-2 in the second half to overcome a two-goal halftime deficit, improved to 3-0 while UMass is now 2-3.
Kaplan also had an assist to finish with a game-high four points while Bratton, the America East Player of the Game, contributed five draw controls in addition to the three goals.
Hayley Rausch (2g, 1a), Allie Duclos (2g) and Kate Keagins (1g, 1a) also finished with multiple points for the Wildcats.
Kate Gunts made four saves and held the Minutewomen scoreless for the initial 25:25 of the second half. Jess Cassotis finished the game with three ground balls, two draw controls and three caused turnovers.
UMass goalie Katie Florence was credited with nine saves. Jackie Lyons, Danielle Pelletier and Jesse O'Donnell each tallied two goals.
UNH erased a 6-4 halftime deficit with a five-goal run to start the second half. Bratton began the rally with 25 seconds elapsed.
She won an extended battle for the draw control, then raced down the right sideline and attacked the goal before firing a shot inside the near post from seven yards out.
The ‘Cats pulled into a 6-6 tie – the only previous tie was at 2 – at 24:10.
JoJo Curro forced a turnover 20 yards from the UMass goal, collected the ground ball and lofted a pass ahead to Kaplan for a 1-on-1 break against Florence.
Kaplan raced down the center of the fan and fired high into the goal.
UMass called time out at that point, but the Wildcats expanded the cushion to 9-6 at 11:03.
The Wildcats went into a spread attack to preserve its three-goal lead and Florence left the cage unattended in an attempt to generate defensive pressure. Kaplan drove from the left wing towards the open net and scored from seven yards out to give UNH an 11-7 lead with 1:25 to play.
O'Donnell scored with 1:00 remaining to close the scoring, as the Wildcats gained control off the draw control and maintained possession the rest of the way.
UNH finished with a 23-20 shot advantage, including 14-6 in the second half. The Wildcats also had the edge in ground balls (12-6).
New Hampshire returns to action March 6 at home against Colgate University. Game time at Memorial Field is 12 p.m.
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