Alex Berman Photography
Alex Berman Photography

Sharkin Scores 100th Career Goal as Lacrosse Falls to Babson, 11-5

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Wellesley junior Nikki Sharkin (Summit, N.J.) scored the 100th goal of her collegiate career but visiting Babson College defeated Wellesley College lacrosse, 11-5, in New England Women's and Men's Athletics Conference (NEWMAC) action on Wednesday afternoon at the Blue's Turf Field. 

Babson improves to 8-3 on the season while remaining a perfect 4-0 in NEWMAC play. The Blue drop to 6-6 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Senior McKenzie Tucci (Winchester, Mass.) recorded her second hat trick of the season to lead Babson. Junior Emily Bresnahan (Wenham, Mass.) added two goals and an assist to finish with three points, while sophomore Charlotte O'Halloran (Middletown, R.I.) added a pair of assists. Juniors Kiley Fischer (Marblehead, Mass.), Francesca Giovanucci (Easton, Mass.), and Katie McKenna (Sandwich, Mass.), and sophomores Annie Arthur (West Windsor, Vt.), Lindsay Giroux (Westwood, Mass.), and Julia Harrigan (Portsmouth, R.I.) all scored for the visitors, with Fischer and McKenna also adding assists.

Sharkin finished the contest with a team-high three points on two goals and an assist, recording her 100th career tally at 25:05 of the second half on an assist from classmate Mary Lemay (Longmeadow, Mass.). Seniors Nicole DeCanio (Weston, Conn.) and Chesley Hooker (Cypress, Texas) and first year Lena Engbretson (Beaverton, Ore.) also scored for the Blue. In goal, Junior Wendy Nettleton (La Jolla, Calif.) made nine saves and had three caused turnovers and seven ground balls to drop to 6-6 on the year.

Babson led from wire-to-wire in the contest, opening the game with back-to-back goals from Tucci at 27:23 and 13:03, before Bresnahan made the score 3-0 with a free position goal at 9:44.

Engbretson got the Blue on the board just over a minute later, beating Babson starter Steveie Burger (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) on a free position shot at 8:41. Burger (8-3) turned back five shots in the contest while also recording a ground ball for the Beavers.

Bresnahan's second of the game put Babson up 4-1 at 7:52, before Sharkin pulled the Blue back to within two, at 4-2, with a goal at 7:15. Back-to-back goals from Harrigan and Giroux then helped Babson end the first half with 6-2 edge.

Babson went on to outscore the Blue 5-3 after the break. O'Halloran found Fischer to open the second period, before Sharkin fired back to make the score 7-3 with her milestone goal less than a minute later. The visitors then ran off three unanswered goals to take a commanding 10-3 lead at 17:45 following a goal from Arthur. The Beavers would go on to close out the 11-5 win, as Hooker and McKenna exchanged goals late before DeCanio scored the final Wellesley marker of the game at 2:31.

Babson outshot the Blue 29-13 in the contest, collecting 22 ground balls and causing 14 turnovers. The Blue scooped up 20 ground balls and added eight caused turnovers.

Wellesley will look to rebound on Saturday afternoon, April 16, in a 1:00 PM NEWMAC contest at Coast Guard. Babson will also continue NEWMAC play on Saturday at 1:00 PM when they travel to Smith.