MIT Downs Blue Lacrosse in NEWMAC Semifinals

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Second-seeded MIT outscored third-seeded Wellesley College lacrosse 7-1 in the first half en route to a 15-10 victory in the semifinals of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship tournament on Saturday afternoon at Springfield College's Stagg Field.  

MIT improves to 15-2 overall and advances to face tournament host and top-seeded Springfield College in the NEWMAC Championship Game tomorrow afternoon, May 3rd, at 1:00 PM. 

Junior midfielder Kira Schott (New Canaan, Conn.) and sophomore Hannah Levy (Yardley, Pa.) each scored four goals apiece and sophomore Erica Green (Ivyland, Pa.) and Emily Young (LaJolla, Calif.) each added a pair of goals to lead the Engineers.  

Wellesley senior Claire Canty (East Rockaway, N.Y.) recorded a team-high four points on two goals and two assists, also grabbing two groundballs and four draw controls. Sophomore Mary Lemay (Longmeadow, Mass.) recorded a hat-trick and a team-high seven shots, while first year Jenny Gubner (Pleasanton, Calif.) also added two goals.

MIT opened the scoring early when Levy and junior Kristyn Berretta (San Diego, Calif.) scored back-to-back goals at 29:21 and 28:44. Lemay responded to bring the Blue back to within one, finishing on an assist from Canty at 15:38. However, MIT closed out the half with five consecutive goals, as Schott and Young both scored two goals and Ashley Masucci (Windham, N.H.) added her only goal of the game, to help MIT take a 7-1 lead at the break. 

Wellesley battled back in the second half, outscoring the Engineers 9-8 thanks to a 14-11 advantage in shots. 

Schott gave MIT an 8-1 advantage just 36 seconds into the second before Gubner got the Blue on the board for the second time with a free position at 28:47. The Engineers then put together a run of three-straight goals, capped by a free position marker from Levy, to take an 11-2 advantage. 

Canty and Lemay scored back-to-back goals at 20:16 and 17:49 before Green broke the Wellesley rally with her second goal at 14:06. With MIT now leading, 12-4, senior Meghan Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.) and Canty scored two more for the Blue to make the score 12-6 with 11:13 left to play.  

The teams then exchanged goals, with Schott adding her final score and Levy her final two for MIT, while Canty, Lemay and Gubner all scored for the Blue. Wellesley sophomores Nikki Sharkin (Summit, N.J.) and Courtney Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.) then scored in the final minute of play but the Blue ultimately ran out of time, as MIT took the 15-10 victory. 

Junior Chesley Hooker (Cypress, Texas) made five saves in goal for the Blue. MIT first year Eva Boal (Princeton Junction, N.J.) added eight saves to earn the victory, as Wellesley record a 25-24 advantage in shots.

MIT finished with a 19-12 advantage in groundballs and a 16-10 advantage in draw controls.

Today's contest ends the 2015 season for the Wellesley Lacrosse program. The Blue finish with an overall record of 9-5, the programs most victories in a season since the 2009 campaign.