PROVIDENCE, R.I. – First-year Riley Shepley scored her fifth goal of the game with 5:22 remaining in regulation and classmate Sidney Mayers added four goals to propel the JWU (Providence) women's lacrosse team to a 16-15 win over the University of Hartford Wednesday evening in Conference of New England (CNE) action at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.

Shepley added two assists and first-year Keira Donegan chipped in with three points (2-1-3) as the Wildcats (2-5, 1-2 CNE) held off the Hawks for their first-ever CNE win. First-year Cassie Burke found the back of the net twice, and both senior Mila Kuilan and sophomore Kelsey Higgins recorded a goal and an assist.

Donegan won a team-high six draw controls while Kuilan and junior Alyssaa Morrison each collected four ground balls. Senior goalkeeper Kylie O'Keefe notched three ground balls and turned aside three shots to earn her first collegiate win.

Shepley and Mayers each scored three first-half goals to help JWU build an 8-7 halftime lead. The Hawks pulled even at 11 with 2:10 to go in the third before three-straight goals – including two off the stick of Donegan – staked the Wildcats to a 14-11 lead.

Later in the fourth, the Wildcats were clinging to a one-goal lead (14-13) when first-year Rhya Saloom netted her third goal of the season to make it 15-13, followed by Shepley's 17th to stretch the lead to 16-13. Hartford's final goal with seven seconds remaining capped the scoring.