Persky Scores Five Goals to Lead Wellesley Lacrosse Over Emerson, 12-6

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College lacrosse broke a 3-3 tie with four unanswered goals en route to a 12-6 New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over visiting Emerson College on a soggy day at the Wellesley turf. Wellesley ends the regular season with a 2-14 overall record and 2-6 mark in the NEWMAC. Emerson is winless on the season and 0-7 in conference.

Junior Dacia Persky (Las Vegas, Nev.) matched her season-high with five goals to lead the Blue, running her team-leading total to 38 while securing her second straight season with over 50 points (54). Persky now has 96 career goals in 49 career games in Blue and stands just nine points shy of the 150-point mark. Persky also added a pair of ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Senior Jenny Gubner (Pleasanton, Calif.) added two goals and an assist, as she bookended the Blue's four-goal run to close the first and start the second. With the teams tied 3-3, Gubner set up classmate Mayu Kikuchi (Villanova, Pa.) at 9:44 of the first before capping the run with her first goal of the game at 24:10 of the second half. Kikuchi finished the contest as one of three Wellesley players with a goal and an assist, along with first year Carson Dennis (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.) and junior Mariana Hernandez (Orlando, Fla.).

With the Blue leading 7-3, Emerson scored three of the next four goals in the contest to cut the deficit to two. Senior Tara Windsor (Palm City, Fla.) netted two goals as part of the run, scoring on a set-up from Sophia Gripari (London, United Kingdom) at 16:00 and Camille Mumford (Yardley, Pa.) at 13:27. Windsor scored three of the six Emerson goals in the contest, while first year Kelli Mark (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) added a pair.

A Wellesley goal from junior Ellie Chalphin (Philadelphia, Pa.) broke up the Emerson run but the Blue would put the Lions away over the final 9:45 of play, as Persky netted a pair before goals from Gubner and Hernandez at 2:56 and 1:24 gave Wellesley the 12-6 final.

Wellesley junior Chloe Tucker (San Ramon, Calif.) turned back seven shots to earn the win (2-14) for the Blue. Emerson senior goalkeeper Kristina Modica (East Moriches, N.Y.) made 19 saves in the setback, dropping to 0-13 on the year.

The Blue finished the contest with a 23-16 edge in ground balls and 41-15 advantage in shots. The Blue also forced Emerson into 28 turnovers while committing 20 of their own. Sophomores Anna Eichhorn (Westport, Conn.) and Hannah Maisano (Gambrills, Md.) tied for team-high honors with four ground balls.

Emerson will close out the regular season on Saturday, April 28 with a 1:00 PM contest against Springfield. The Blue will have to wait for the conclusion of NEWMAC regular season play to see if they have secured the No. 6 spot in the standings and a trip to the postseason.