Husson Wins 2025 NAC Women's Lacrosse Championship
CASTINE, Maine – Junior Averi Baker scored the game-winning goal with 23 seconds remaining, lifting Husson to a dramatic 12-11 comeback win over top-seeded Maine Maritime and securing the Eagles’ first-ever NAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship on a rainy Saturday evening at Ritchie Field.
Mariners’ Kirra Magaña opened the championship game with an unassisted goal at 13:53 to put Maine Maritime up 1-0. Husson was able to settle in and pull ahead after two free position goals from Maddy Benoit and Baker and end the first quarter with a one goal lead.
In the 12th minute of the second half, Maine Maritime’s Rebecca Caron evened the score with a woman-up free position goal. The Eagles answered back two minutes later with Baker netting a goal off an assist from Laela Martinez. Husson would go on a 4-0 run to end the first half 6-2. Natalie Whitten, Kate Boehmcke and Baker all added to the Eagles' scoring efforts in the second quarter.
Husson goalkeeper Emma Beegz had a dominant first half with nine saves and held the Mariners to just two goals.
The offensive efforts of the Stoddard sisters, Lillian Diversi, and Caron were influential for Maine Maritime in the third quarter helping the Mariners go on an explosive 8-1 run to regain the lead. Diversi ended the quarter with two goals and an assist. Hazel Stoddard recorded four goals and two assists and ended the third frame with a hat trick. Hadley Stoddard added a goal and assist with Caron scoring the final goal of the quarter to put Maine Maritime up 10-7 heading into the final frame.
Maine Maritime outshot Husson 12-4 in the third quarter with five power play goals. Ella Bowes had three saves for the Mariners.
Diversi recorded her 100th career goal 24 seconds into the final quarter to extend Maine Maritime’s lead to four (11-7). The Eagles defense did not let the Mariners score for the remainder of the deciding quarter.
Whitten scored a quick goal in the final frame to cut the Eagles deficit to three and Benoit went on a dominant run and scored three goals and tied the game at 11-apiece making for an exciting final quarter. Husson goalkeeper Beegz made two remarkable saves at the 3:39 and 1:00 mark to keep the game tied and the Eagles' chances for a NAC title alive.
With 23 seconds left in the game, Baker whipped the ball into the net off an assist from Whitten to score the game winning goal. Husson solidified the championship title after winning the final draw control of the game and running the clock down to zero.
The Eagles Benoit finished the night with four goals, three of which came in the fourth quarter, and an assist and caused turnover. Baker also tallied four goals and her late goal tied her with Husson women’s lacrosse head coach Amanda Deshaies for the most goals in program history with 130. Boehmcke and Whitten scored two goals a piece in the title game and Eagles’ goalkeeper Beegz made 14 saves and four caused turnovers.
Hazel Stoddard led the Mariners with four goals, three, assists, and five caused turnovers. Diversi recorded three goals and four ground balls, Caron added two goals to her stat sheet for the night, with teammates Mangaña and Hadley Stoddard tallying one goal each. Mariners’ goalkeeper Bowes finished with eight saves.
Husson’s Emma Beegz was named 2025 NAC Women’s Lacrosse Most Valuable Player.
Husson will now find out its next opponent during the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Selection Show on Monday 10:30 am.