Union Upends Wellesley Lacrosse in Florida Opener

CLERMONT, Fla. -- The Wellesley College lacrosse team dropped a 17-8 match-up against Union College on spring break at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida. The loss dips the Blue to 3-4, while Union improves to 2-1 with the win. 

The game was close through the first half, before Union pulled away to put it out of reach. The Dutchwomen used an advantage on the draw, posting a 16-11 edge in draw controls, including a 10-3 advantage in the first half.

Union scored the first four goals of the game, as four different goal scorers put the Dutchwomen up 4-0 with 16:21 to play in the half. Wellesley bounced back, scoring four straight to even the mark. The Blue were aided by a goal and two assists from Brit Mscisz during the surge, while Chesley Hooker, Nicole DeCanio, and Claire Canty also score for Wellesley. 

After Wellesley's comeback, Union responded by scoring four unanswered goals, closing out the half with an 8-4 lead. 

Neither team scored in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, until Union broke through with back-to-back goals to push their advantage to 10-4 with 19:04 to play. The teams then traded two goals each, with Canty and Mscisz scoring for the Blue to make it 11-6 with 13:28 remaining.

From that point on, Union out-scored Wellesley, 6-2, to close out the half, giving the Dutchwomen the 17-8 win.

Wellesley's Canty scored four goals and added a game-high seven draw controls. Mscisz ended her morning with two goals and three assists for five points, while DeCanio and Hooker added solo scores for the Blue.

Sophomore Caitlin Crawford and first-year Wendy Nettleton each recorded three ground balls and two caused turnovers, while Nettletown picked up nine saves in goal for the Blue. 

Union's Emily McGrail led all players with five goals, while Maggie Comiskey added three goals and two assists. The Dutchwomen also got two goals each from Jecqueline Hagopian Haley Gould, and Maddie Lewis.  

Wellesley continues its spring trip on Thursday, playing Williams College at 10:30am at the National Training Center.