Wellesley Lacrosse Edges Out Emerson, 16-14

BOSTON, Mass. – Wellesley College lacrosse earned a second straight New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory on Tuesday, rallying for a 16-4 victory over Emerson College at Rotch Field. 

Junior Gabrielle Shell (Upper Arlington, Ohio) scored the go-ahead goal at 3:06 of the fourth, finishing on an assist from first year Camille Francis (Bowie, Md.) to help the Blue improve to 4-8 overall and 2-3 in NEWMAC action. Junior Lauren Longstreet (Alamo, Calif.) netted six goals with a trio of assists to lead Emerson (3-9 overall, 1-4 NEWMAC). 

Shell paced the Blue with four goals while first year Chloe Guntrip (Irvine, Calif.) scored her first career hat trick and added an assist. Senior Liz Sugg (Palermo, Maine) and first year Allie Beighle (Missoula, Mont.) both contributed with a pair of assists. Wellesley keeper Hannah Pangbor (Raleigh, N.C.) saved 11 shots and first year Phoebe Calero (Havre de Grace, Md.) won nine controls.

In addition to the big game from Longstreet, sophomore Callie Krosin (Pikesville, Md.) scored four goals with an assist while classmate Grace Danehy (Mansfield, Mass.) had two goals, an assist, and won five draw controls. Senior goalie Nina Khosla (La Jolla, Calif.) turned away eight shots.

Longstreet opened the scoring for the Lions 13 seconds into the contest, helping the hosts take a 4-1 edge by the 8:47 mark of the first. McGough netted back-to-back markers for the Blue to stop the run and make the score 4-3 at the end of the first. 

Emerson freshman Ava Selby (Boonsboro, Md.) set-up Krosin at 12:24 before Longstreet added her third of the contest 14 seconds later to help Emerson extend their advantage to 6-3 at the start of the second. The teams exchanged goals for the remainder of the quarter to send the teams into the break with Emerson leading 9-6. 

Guntrip completed her hat trick just 38 seconds into the second half before a pair of Lions' goals upped Emerson's lead to 11-7. Over the final eight minutes of the third quarter the Blue chipped away at the lead, with first year Finley Tipton (Coppell, Texas), sophomore Mattie Knowles (Newburyport, Mass.) and Francis all scoring to make the score 11-10 in Emerson's favor after three.

Danehy scored early in the fourth before Francis and Knowles struck back for Wellesley to tie the score at 12-12. The teams alternated goals through 14-14, with Shell striking twice for the Blue and Longstreet and Krosin racking up goals for the Lions. It would be Shell's late goal, followed by another goal with just 58 seconds remaining that clinched the 16-14 victory for the Blue.

Wellesley outshot Emerson 35-29 with both teams converting on 13 of 16 clear attempts. The Blue held a 26-16 advantage in ground balls. 

Next up, the Blue will return home to host Babson on senior day Saturday at 1:00 PM. The Lions travel to Clark Saturday for a 7:00 PM NEWMAC contest.