Women’s lacrosse falls to Springfield College
Wright earns three goals, Wacker has four draw controls in team’s final home game
In the regular-season finale for both squads, Springfield College defeated MIT, 11-7, in a NEWMAC women’s lacrosse game on Monday night. Kira M. Schott ’16 paced the Engineers (6-10, 2-4 NEWMAC) with four goals while Connie Nielsen registered four goals and an assist for the Pride (9-7, 4-2 NEWMAC).
The first 15 minutes of the game was a defensive battle as both sides were plagued with turnovers, and Springfield saw MIT goalie Paige V. Kennedy ’16 stop three of their six shots. On their third shot of the game, the Engineers ended the stalemate as Schott converted a free-position attempt at the 15:09 mark. The Pride responded with a solo effort by Nielsen just over a minute later who found sophomore Michelle Dorsey and slashed through the eight-meter arc to the cage.
Nielsen extended the visitors’ lead to 3-1 with another unassisted goal, but Meghan S. Wright ’13 connected on a feed from Emma Kane ’15 to keep MIT within striking distance. Springfield then gained some breathing room courtesy of strikes by Nielsen and junior Kelly Gallo to enter halftime ahead, 5-2.
The Pride doubled its advantage during the first six minutes of the second stanza on goals from Nielsen, Gallo, and senior Meghan Flanagan, the last coming on a free-position attempt. The Engineers ended their scoring drought with two strikes from Schott; however, Springfield reestablished its six-goal cushion (10-4) midway through the half with another Flanagan free-position marker and an unassisted effort by Dorsey.
Despite the deficit, MIT continued to attack as Wright recorded back-to-back goals in a two-minute span and Schott brought it within three (10-7) with 5:10 left to play. MIT won the ensuing draw but a turnover allowed the Pride to take some time off the clock until Dorsey found the back of the net with 2:23 to go. The Engineers came away with the next draw which resulted in a shot from Wright that was stopped point-blank by freshman Carley Elkin with 1:34 remaining. Springfield successfully cleared the ball and maintained possession as the final horn sounded.
Wright finished with a hat-trick as Kane earned a pair of assists. Laura M. Wacker ’13 led the way with four draw controls, followed by three from both Schott and Isabella D. DiDio ’16. Molly E. McShane ’13 posted three groundballs while Kennedy totaled six saves and four groundballs.