THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 19 MIT 18, Plymouth State University 10
 
- Records: MIT (17-4); Plymouth State (13-7)
 
- Location: Geneva, N.Y. (Boswell Field at David Urick Stadium)
 
- The Lead: The No. 19 MIT women's lacrosse team kicked off the NCAA Tournament with an 18-10 victory over Plymouth State University at Hobart and William Smith Colleges on Saturday. Senior Ellie Rabenold (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore Ashley Thomas (Summit, N.J.) powered the Engineers with six points apiece.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- MIT scored twice during the first four minutes before going up 5-1 at the end of the opening quarter. First-year Jillian Butler (Brecksville, Ohio) set up junior Julianne Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.) for the Engineers' first goal and notched the final tally of the period. Thomas found the back of the net twice, the first coming on an assist by Rabenold who later added a free-position goal.
 
- MIT continued to control the action in the second stanza as its advantage grew to 11-3. Thomas scored the first and last goals of the period while sophomores Nina Petulla (Natick, Mass.) and Gwen Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.) both registered one goal and one assist.
 
- The Engineers outscored Plymouth State, 5-2, in the third quarter to build a 16-5 margin. Rabenold contributed back-to-back goals and an assist while Gwen Flusche chipped in a goal and an assist.
 
- The Panthers had a 5-2 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter as their last two goals came with a player advantage. For MIT, Thomas set up Nina Petulla at the 9:20 mark while Julianne Flusche redirected a feed from Gwen Flusche right before time expired.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Rabenold totaled four goals and two assists while Thomas finished with five goals and one assist. Nina Petulla notched three goals and two assists as Gwen Flusche tallied two goals, three assists, seven draw controls, and three groundballs. Butler chipped in six draw controls, three groundballs, one goal, and one assist while senior Katie Bell (Radnor, Pa.) produced four groundballs and two caused turnovers. Seniors Faith Bulan (New Providence, N.J.) and Grace Harrington (Seattle, Wash.) both registered three groundballs as Bulan added two caused turnovers.

- In net, first-year Pauline Vien (Brookline, Mass.) made three saves in the first half while sophomore Molly Dulde (Delafield, Wis.) turned away two shots in the third quarter. First-year Ashton Flather (Ipswich, Mass.) made two stops during eight minutes of the fourth quarter as first-year Christina Fradella (Massapequa, N.Y.) collected four saves down the stretch.
 
- This was the first meeting between both programs since 2018. The series is currently tied at 4-4 as MIT's last win over Plymouth State occurred in 2017.
 
- With the victory, the Engineers picked up their 17^th win of the season, tying the program record for wins in a season which was set in 2015.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT will play host No. 9 William Smith College in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, May 12 at 1:00 p.m.
 
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