Persky Nets 100th Career Goal To Lead Blue Lacrosse Past Eastern Conn. St., 16-7

WELLESLEY, Mass -- Senior Dacia Persky (Las, Vegas, Nev.) scored her 100th career goal as the Wellesley College lacrosse team opened up the 2019 season with a 16-7 win against Eastern Connecticut State on Thursday afternoon at the Wellesley turf.

The Blue begin the season 1-0 with the non-conference win. Eastern drops to 0-4 on the season with their fourth straight loss to a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) squad.

Persky led the offensive charge for the Blue, as she finished with a career-high 11 points on nine goals and two assists. First year Eleanor Mallett (Berwick, Maine) collected her first collegiate points in her debut with three goals and five assists, while also scooping up four ground balls to led the team. Four other members of the Blue scored a goal, as sophomores Ella Matticks (Minneapolis, Minn.), Kat Gallison (Portsmouth, R.I.) and seniors Olivia Strobl (Stafford, Va.) and Lena Engbretson (Beaverton, Ore.) all found the back of the net.

For Eastern, junior Tristan Kijak (Windsor, Conn.) and sophomore Alexa Jacobson (Marlborough, Conn.) tied to lead all players with five ground balls. Kijak also chipped in one goal. Senior Michelina Pinto (Groton, Conn.) led her team with three goals. Junior Madison Renaud (Somers, Conn.) netted a pair and junior Alyssa Powers (Ellington, Conn.) also scored for the Warriors.

Early goals were exchanged as Powers scored the game's first goal for the Warriors before the Blue responded quickly when Persky found the back of the net just a minute later. Eastern would then go on a 4-0 run thanks to Renaud and Pinto, who both scored two of their goals within the three minute run. Trailing 5-1, Wellesley and Persky responded, netting seven straight goals to take an 8-5 lead at the half. Persky scored five goals as part of the 7-0 swing, including her 100th career goal at 6:50 of the first.

The Blue used the late first half run to carry the momentum into the second half as they extended their lead to close out the Warriors. The Blue outscored Eastern Connecticut 8-2 in the second frame. Kijak and Pinto each scored for Eastern, but Persky tallied four of her nine goals, while Mallet and Strobl each put shots in the back of the net. Engbreston also tallied a goal and an assist, while junior Carson Dennis (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.) picked up an assist to help the Blue prevail.

In net, senior Chloe Tucker (San Ramon, Calif.) stymied nine Warrior shots as she picked up the win for the Blue. Eastern senior Jessica Purick (Riverhead, NY) dropped to 0-4 as she made eight saves.

Wellesley returns to action this Saturday at home against Tufts University, the game is scheduled for a 12:00 PM start. The Warriors continue their spring slate on Tuesday, March 12th, when they take on Bridgewater State in Englewood, Fla.