CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 18 MIT scored 10 unanswered goals in the first half as it went on to defeat Westfield State University, 15-6, in a non-conference women's lacrosse game on Saturday afternoon at Jack Barry Field.
Junior
Ashley Thomas (Summit, N.J.) generated three goals and four assists for the Engineers, resulting in the 200
th point of her career. Seniors Emma Prattson (Tolland, Conn.) and Mykenzie Black (Hopedale, Mass.) both posted two points for the Owls as Prattson had a goal and an assist while Black dished out two assists.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 18 MIT 15, Westfield State 6
- Records: MIT (1-1 Overall); Westfield State (0-1 Overall)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Thomas scored twice during the opening period, the first being a player-advantage goal just 1:02 into the game. First-year Eliza Baldwin (Catonsville, Md.) buried a free position shot for her first intercollegiate marker as junior Annica Lam (Livingston, N.J.) found the back of the net with 3:01 left, giving MIT a 4-0 lead.
- In the second quarter, senior Julianne Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.) produced back-to-back goals with junior Gwen Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.) and Lam earning assists.
- Following almost four minutes of scoreless play, MIT rattled off four goals during the last 4:18 of the frame to build a 10-0 halftime advantage. Junior Nina Petulla (Natick, Mass.) started the rally, Thomas posted a goal and an assist, and Lam registered the second of two goals with eight seconds to go.
- Goals by Gwen Flusche sandwiched a pair of strikes by Westfield State in the third quarter. Senior Natalie DeMaio (Westwood, Mass.) ended the shutout at the 8:56 mark and then graduate student student Kylie Buchanan (Westfield, Mass.) recorded a player-advantage goal 1:06 later.
- Thomas set up the Engineers' first two goals of the fourth quarter, resulting in her 200th point and increasing the lead to 14-2 with 12:39 on the clock.
- Sophomore Willow Romo (Marlboro, Vt.) found the back of the net for the visitors, but first-year Alexis Reinard (Nottingham, Pa.) quickly replied with the first goal of her career.
- A free position goal by sophomore Ashley D'Elia (Watertown, Conn.) was followed by a solo effort from Prattson, making the score 15-5 with 3:34 remaining.
- Lam capped the scoring with an unassisted tally 1:26 later.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Thomas became the eighth player in program history to record 200 points and currently ranks eighth all-time at MIT.
- Lam finished with five goals and one assist as Gwen Flusche totaled three goals, one assist, and three draw controls.
- Julianne Flusche produced two goals, one assist, four draw controls, and one caused turnover while Petulla registered three groundballs, three caused turnovers, two draw controls, one goal, and one assist.
- In net, sophomore Pauline Vien (Brookline, Mass.) tallied four saves, three groundballs, and two caused turnovers in the first half. Sophomore Ashton Flather (Ipswich, Mass.) turned away three shots in the third quarter while junior Molly Dulde (Delafield, Wis.) and sophomore Christina Fradella (Massapequa, N.Y.) both played during the fourth quarter.
- Black led all players with five draw controls and added two groundballs and a caused turnover while junior Mercedes Rozzi (South Burlington, Vt.) notched two groundballs and two caused turnovers.
- Senior Sydney Smith (Dalton, Mass.) made five saves in the first half as senior Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, N.Y.) collected five saves during the second half for Westfield State.
UP NEXT:
- MIT returns to action on Friday, March 7 when it travels to Roger Williams University for a 4:00 PM game.
- Westfield State travels to Skidmore College for a 6:00 PM game on Wednesday, March 5.
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