THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 21 MIT 19, Union College 11
 
- Records: MIT (2-0); Union (0-1)
 
- Location: Schenectady, N.Y. (Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium)
 
- The Lead: No. 21 MIT outscored Union College, 12-5, in the second half en route to a 19-11 victory in a non-conference women's lacrosse game on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Ashley Thomas (Summit, N.J.) amassed a career-high 10 points on a career-best six goals to go along with four assists for the Engineers.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair until a goal by Thomas and a free-position blast by sophomore Nina Petulla (Natick, Mass.) gave MIT a 4-2 edge at the end of the period.
 
- Union opened the second stanza with a pair of quick goals. However, the Engineers countered with a free-position goal by junior Sydney Pyon (Garnet Valley, Pa.), a goal from Thomas that was set up by senior Meredith Arterburn (Cooksville, Md.), and a solo effort by senior Ellie Rabenold (Cincinnati, Ohio) to go up 7-4 with just over six minutes remaining. The Garnet Chargers replied with two goals during the final 96 seconds to stay within striking distance.
 
- A pair of goals by Pyon and Thomas increased MIT's cushion to 11-6 just over six minutes into the third quarter. Both teams went on to trade goals, moving the score to 14-9 following a free-position goal by Rabenold with a player advantage with 32 seconds left.
 
- The Engineers rattled off five unanswered goals in the fourth quarter as Thomas scored and set up two goals by junior Julianne Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.) while sophomore Monica Petulla (Natick, Mass.) recorded a free-position goal. Union capped the scoring with two goals during the last 3:07 of regulation.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Arterburn finished with four assists, a career-high 10 draw controls, and two groundballs while Flusche and Rabenold both registered hat tricks. Pyon totaled three goals and four draw controls as senior Grace Harrington (Seattle, Wash.) collected three groundballs and two caused turnovers.
 
- In net, sophomore Molly Dulde (Delafield, Wis.) made six saves in the first half while first-year Pauline Vien (Brookline, Mass.) closed out the game with seven saves.
 
- Thomas was one point shy of tying the program record for points in a game, which was set by Laura Wacker '13 in 2012.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT will host No. 4 Tufts University on Wednesday, March 6 at 4:15 p.m.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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