HENNIKER, N.H. – March 22, 2024 – The Dean College women's lacrosse team fell at New England College, 17-7, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on a chilly Friday afternoon.

Dean (1-5, 0-3 GNAC, 0-0 GNAC South) will step out of conference action on Tuesday to host UMass Dartmouth at 4:15 p.m. New England College (3-2, 1-1 GNAC, 0-0 GNAC North) will play its first North Division game on Tuesday at Colby-Sawyer.

Junior Haley Gaunt (Johnston, R.I.) scored four times to lead the Bulldogs. Sophomore Alisha Caldeira (West Bridgewater, Mass.) contributed a goal, an assist, six ground balls and four caused turnovers. First-year Adeline Youngclaus (Middleborough, Mass.) recorded her first collegiate goal in the fourth quarter. Junior Nina Medeiros (Fairhaven, Mass.) also scored a goal.

Cassie Kelly led the Pilgrims with six goals, while Nathalie Antigua posted a game best eight points on five goals and three assists.

Dean sophomore goalie Allie Stockwell (Burrillville, R.I.) surrendered 14 goals and made seven saves in three quarters. Carleigh Knotts finished with 15 saves in the win.

The game began with nearly seven minutes of scoreless action before NEC rattled off three consecutive goals. Medeiros put the Bulldogs on the board with less than three minutes to play, but the Pilgrims answered for a 4-1 lead after one quarter.

NEC pushed its lead to 6-1 with a pair of goals in a 21-second span early in the second. Gaunt then scored twice for Dean to cut the deficit to 6-3. The home finished the half with two more goals to take an 8-3 advantage into the break.

The Pilgrims erupted for a 6-1 margin in scoring in the third to put the game out of reach.

Each team scored three times in the final frame to account for the 17-7 final.