Wellesley Lacrosse Cruises in 12-5 Win Over Eastern Connecticut

MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Wellesley College women's lacrosse team held Eastern Connecticut State University without a goal for 26 minutes and eased to a 12-5 non-conference victory Wednesday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

The win snaps a three-game skid for the Blue, improving Wellesley to 4-6 overall. Eastern now stands at 2-7, falling for the third time in four games. 

The hosts jumped out to a lead, going up 2-1 with 16 minutes remaining in the first half. Wellesley first-year Nikki Sharkin opened up the scoring, converting a pass from Brit Mscisz. The Warriors fired back with two-straight, using goals from Ashley Wolk and Olivia Mullen to take over the lead for the first and last time in the contest.

Down a goal, Wellesley held Eastern scoreless over the final 16 minutes of the half, while getting tallies from three different players to take a 4-2 edge into the break. The Blue's Mscisz, Sharkin and junior Claire Canty scored during the stretch.

Wellesley out-shot Eastern 16-8 in the first half, while the teams were even with three draw controls each.

Canty and junior Meghan Peterson opened the second half by scoring six minutes apart to push Wellesley's lead to 6-2. Eastern finally broke through with an Erin Conn goal at 19:37 to end a 26-minute drought, closing the gap to 6-3. 

Again, Wellesley took over, scoring six straight over the next 15-minutes to pull away. Two Meghan Peterson goals and one each from Mscisz, Sharkin, and Canty extended the Blue lead to 12-3 with 3:09 to play.

Eastern added the game's final two tallies, as Wolk and Conn connected for the Warriors, but it wasn't enough as Wellesley cruised to the 12-5 victory.

Wellesley outshot Eastern 28-17 in the contest and got hat tricks from four different players, accounting for all 12 of the team's goals. Mscisz, Meghan Peterson, Sharkin and Canty all had three scores, with Canty also assisting on two and winning six draws. Meghan Peterson picked up four ground balls to lead the Blue, with 10 other Wellesley players contributing a ground ball.

For Eastern, Wolk and Conn each had two goals and three draw controls, with Wolk picking up three ground balls. Eastern's Meg Eremita had two assists to round out the Warriors offense.

Eastern goalie Taylor Emmerson made 12 saves in the loss. The Warriors were able to put only 11 of their shots on net, forcing Wellesley first-year Wendy Nettleton into making just six saves for her third win of the year.

Wellesley is back in action on Saturday at home, hosting NEWMAC rival Mount Holyoke at 12:00pm. Eastern next visits Keene State in an LEC match Saturday at 1:00pm.