MANCHESTER, N.H. – Kathleen Gillespie was the catalyst for the Falcon offense with three goals as the Bentley University women's lacrosse team defeated Southern New Hampshire University 11-7 Saturday afternoon. Bentley improves to an overall record of 3-2 with a 2-1 Northeast-10 Conference mark, while the Penmen fall to 1-1 and drop their first conference matchup of 2015.

Southern New Hampshire would open up to a 2-1 lead with a pair of goals from freshman Kennedy Daziel (East Hampstead, N.H.) until Bentley quickly responded with back-to-back goals from Kelsey Howard and Taylor Lunden. A goal from Alexa Allen (East Longmeadow, Mass.) would tie the game at 2-2. Bentley was able to contain the Penmen offensive attack for the remainder of the half, as the Falcons would head into the halftime break with a 5-4 lead.

Returning from the half, Bentley would add an additional three goals before senior Emily King (Florence, Mass.) was able to score on a feed from Daziel, making the score 8-5. Allen notched an unassisted goal to slim the lead to just two, before Bentley's Kelsey Howard was able to notch her second goal of the game. King would contribute a multi-goal effort after scoring her second goal with 7:23 remaining in the second half, creating a 9-7 Bentley lead. The Falcons would conclude the game with two goals from Hannah Lindgren and Gillespie, ending the game with a score of 11-7.

Southern New Hampshire's seven goals were divided amongst four players, as King, Daziel, and Allen all recorded two apiece. Courtney Nivala (Westminister, Mass.) would record her second goal of the season in the effort. Goalie Nicole Kennedy (Windham, Maine) recorded six saves on the afternoon.

The Falcon defense relied upon netminder Lauren Ochs, who recorded 17 saves on 24 shots. Five different Bentley players would contribute multi-point performances.

The Penmen outshot Bentley 32-26 while holding a 13-7 edge in groundballs. Southern New Hampshire held the edge in turnovers, only surrendering 11 in comparison to Bentley's 15.

Southern New Hampshire women's lacrosse returns to action Tuesday as it takes on the Skyhawks of Stonehill College at 7 p.m. at Larkin Field.

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