Late Surge Pushes Eastern Conn. Past Blue Lax

MANSFIELD, Conn. – Junior Christina Rully scored two of Eastern Connecticut's final three goals, as the Warriors edged visiting Wellesley College, 10-8, in non-conference lacrosse action Wednesday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

There were five ties and four lead changes before Eastern (8-3) scored three unanswered goals in eight minutes to move out to a 10-7 lead with just under nine minutes left and go on to end a four-game losing streak at the hands of Wellesley (3-7) in a six-game series where the average goal differential has been less than three goals.

The win is the sixth straight for Eastern and fourth in five home contests.

The first half was tightly played, as each team recorded four goals. First-year Claire Canty scored twice for Wellesley, while sophomore Brit Mscisz and senior Meredith Roy each tallied solo goals. Eastern was backed by scores from Rully, Daniela Marchitto, Nicole Shusdock and Erin Conn. 

Wellesley took a 6-4 lead, opening the second half with back to back scores from Canty and first-year Rachel Hanscom. The Warriors answered with three straight, two from Marchitto, before Wellesley's Hanscom knotted the game at 7-7 with 18:49 to play. 

Rully gave Eastern the lead for good, 8-7, with 16 minutes left after Marchitto picked up a ground ball off a missed shot. Senior attack Ashley Prizio made it 9-7 seven minutes later when she converted a Wellesley turnover into her second goal of the match off an assist from sophomore attack Erin Conn. Conn then won the ensuing draw when senior defender Megan Barrett won the draw, and Rully connected on her seventh goal of the season off a pass from Marchitto with just under nine minutes left.

Wellesley added a goal from Roy with 1:47 left to play, but the Blue would get no closer. 

Eastern senior goalie Kristianna Ibsen made 15 saves – five coming on free-position shots. Two of the free-position saves came in the final 15 minutes and two came in succession that allowed the Warriors to preserve a three-goal lead in the final two minutes.

Rully entered play with four goals on the season and matched Marchitto with three goals on the afternoon. Marchitto now has a Little East Conference-leading 36 goals on the season. Prizio chipped in two goals and two assists. Junior Rachel Meotti, won five draws and Barrett four and junior defender Samantha Barone forced three turnovers.

Making her fourth start in goal this year, sophomore Tya Logan made ten saves for Wellesley --  seven when the teams played to a 4-4 first-half tie.

Canty led the Blue with three goals, while Hanscom and Roy each added two. Hanscom and junior Allison Robbins each had four ground balls. First-year Nathalie Gruet led Wellesley with two draw controls, as the Eastern held a 15-5 advantage over the Blue in that category. 

Wellesley is back in action at home at noon on Saturday. The Blue will face NEWMAC-rival Springfield. Eastern visits Keene State College in a Little East Conference match Saturday at 1 p.m.