Women’s lacrosse team stops Smith College comeback
MIT fends off Smith to earn win
A four-goal run late in regulation helped the MIT women’s lacrosse team thwart a comeback attempt by Smith College and secure a 20-13 NEWMAC victory on Saturday, April 5. Hannah A. Levy ’17 generated a game-high six points on four goals and two assists for the Engineers (7-3, 1-0 NEWMAC). The Pioneers (1-10, 0-3 NEWMAC), playing with only 10 field players, saw Olivia Timmins and Anne Zawacki record hat-tricks.
MIT built a 7-2 lead during the opening 15 minutes of action. Smith responded with a 3-1 spurt courtesy of a solo effort by Petru Bester and two Zawacki free-position shots to come within three (8-5) with 4:17 left in the half. With 18 seconds remaining, Keeley D. Erhardt’s ‘17 free-position goal ended the Engineers’ scoring drought heading into the intermission.
The Cardinal and Gray carried the momentum into the second stanza as Kira M. Schott ’15 found the back of the next after 44 seconds elapsed, sparking a 4-1 run that put it up 13-6 at the 25:47 mark. The Pioneers replied with four unanswered goals during the next 10 minutes to once again trim their deficit to three. An unassisted marker by Levy stopped the run and set off an exchange of goals that moved the score to 15-12 with 9:59 on the clock. This was as close as it would get as Kristyn M. Berretta ’16 won the ensuing draw and went directly to net, helping MIT clinch the win with a game-ending 5-1 run.
Erica L. Green ’17 led all scorers with five goals while Schott tallied three goals, one assist, nine draw controls, two groundballs, and two caused turnovers. Isabella D. DiDio ’16 produced three goals, one assist, five groundballs, and five draw controls while Berretta posted two goals, one assist, and two groundballs. Erhardt finished with two goals as Lyndsy A. Muri ’15 added one of her own. Emily L. Dunne ’14 paced the Engineers with three groundballs followed by two from Erin B. Kenney ’14. Christine W. Jiang ’16 tacked on three draw controls while goalie Candice I. Kaplan ’15 came away with 11 saves and two groundballs.
Rachel Silveria compiled two goals, one assist, five draw controls, and four groundballs for the visitors. Jessica Lillquist notched two goals and one assist as Bester had two goals and four groundballs. Zawacki added three draw controls and two groundballs to her hat-trick while Kate Detrick recorded one goal and two groundballs. Jenny Estes chipped in two groundballs, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers as goalie Merric Kallfelz amassed 12 saves and two groundballs.
Both squads return to action on Tuesday, April 8 against NEWMAC foes. MIT will host Wellesley College while Smith will make the trip to Springfield College.