Field Hockey Downs Mount Holyoke, Advances to NEWMAC Semis

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The third-seeded Wellesley College field hockey team advanced to the semifinals of the 2012 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament with a 3-2 win over sixth-seeded Mount Holyoke in Wednesday's quarterfinal at Wellesley. 

With the win, the Blue (12-7) now head to Babson to take on second-seeded MIT in the second of two semifinals on Saturday. The first semifinal will feature top-seeded Babson against fourth-seeded Springfield. The loss ends Mount Holyoke's 2012 campaign with a 7-10 overall record. 

Wellesley out-shot Mount Holyoke 20-4 in the contest, while also holding an 11-3 advantage in penalty corners. The Blue also held the Lyons to just one shot in the second frame. Mount Holyoke goalkeepers Anne O'Byrne and Emma Ross kept the Lyons in the game, combining for 11 saves, while facing a tough Wellesley offense. 

Wellesley opened the scoring in the 13^th minute, when Emily Lewis tapped in a slick pass from Allison Robbins, beating the keeper on the right side. Wellesley made it 2-0, just over four minutes later when Hannah Flesch scored on a feed from Robbins, after a penalty corner started by Kaitlyn Kirkaldy. 

Mount Holyoke cut the lead to 2-1 in the 24^th minute, as Angelica Pascual collected a rebound and knocked it into the back of the cage. Kirsten Kilburn had the initial shot before Wellesley's Maddie Whitaker stopped her attempt. The rebound kicked to the post where Pascual was waiting for the score. 

Wellesley went into the break with a 2-1 lead, while also holding an 8-3 shots advantage.

In the second half, Wellesley picked up two early penalty corner opportunities, using the second to increase the lead to 3-1. Robbins was again credited with the assist, this one on a hard shot from the left side of the circle that was deflected into the back of the cage by Nathalie Gruet. 

Wellesley's 3-1 edge held until the 69^th minute when Sarah LaQuerre scored for the Lyons to cut it to 3-2. After the feed from a penalty corner escaped the circle, LaQuerre collected the mis-hit and nailed a shot from the top left side of the circle for the score.

Holding a slim 3-2 lead, Wellesley was able to keep the ball away from Mount Holyoke for the final two minutes of play to seal the victory. 

The Blue's Robbins ended the game with all three assists, while goalie Brit Mscisz needed just one save to earn the victory. For the Lyons, O'Byrne picked up five saves, while Ross came on in relief, making six stops. Allison Slysz added a defensive save for the visitors.