THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 17 MIT 21, Smith College 4
 
- Records: MIT (13-3, 7-2 NEWMAC); Smith (8-9, 5-5 NEWMAC)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Jack Barry Field)
 
- The Lead: No. 17 MIT scored just over 90 seconds into the game and never looked back as it cruised to a 21-4 victory over Smith College in NEWMAC women's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Ashley Thomas (Summit, N.J.) and senior Ellie Rabenold (Cincinnati, Ohio) both produced seven points for the Engineers while Kyra Hawk led the Pioneers with two goals and an assist.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Senior Meredith Arterburn (Cooksville, Md.) redirected a feed from Thomas after 1:32 elapsed, kicking off a string of seven straight goals in the opening quarter. Thomas was a factor in four goals as she added two goals and an assist in the frame.
 
- Thomas, sophomore Nina Petulla (Natick, Mass.), and first-year Laura Day (Saybrook, Conn.) increased MIT's advantage during the first three minutes of the second stanza. Hawk ended the shutout at the 10:49 mark, however, junior Julianne Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.) replied with back-to-back goals, moving the score to 12-1. Hawk followed with a goal and then set up Caroline Sanders with 3:50 left in the frame. The Engineers countered with three goals in a row, resulting in a 15-3 halftime advantage. Rabenold earned an assist on a blast by sophomore Monica Petulla (Natick, Mass.) and then Rabenold found the back of the net twice.
 
- MIT rattled off four unanswered goals in the third quarter and added free-position goals by Flusche and first-year Jillian Butler (Brecksville, Ohio) in the fourth quarter. Jennie Arancio ended Smith's scoring drought courtesy of a solo effort with 1:38 remaining in the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Thomas generated four goals and three assists while Rabenold tallied three goals, four assists, three caused turnovers, and two draw controls. Flusche finished with five goals and one assist as Nina Petulla recorded four goals. Butler and sophomore Gwen Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.) both notched three draw controls while Butler added two caused turnovers.
 
- In net, sophomore Molly Dulde (Delafield, Wis.) made four saves in the first half while first-year Pauline Vien (Brookline, Mass.) turned away eight shots in the second half.
 
- Sanders led all players with six draw controls to go along with two groundballs as Leigh Hillmanno posted three caused turnovers and three groundballs. Arrancio chipped in three draw controls while Maya Wang contributed two caused turnovers and two draw controls.
 
- In net, Shannon Houtenville made four saves in the first quarter as Brooke Testa closed out the game with four saves.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT will wrap up the regular season on Wednesday, April 24 when it hosts NEWMAC foe Wheaton College at 6:00 p.m. Smith, meanwhile, will wait to see if it earns a spot on the NEWMAC Tournament which kicks off on Saturday, April 27.
 
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