Lacrosse Slips Past Keene State, 13-12
KEENE, N.H. (March 10, 2009) – Junior midfielder Peggy Wefald racked up six points on five goals and an assist, as the Mount Holyoke College women’s lacrosse team edged Keene State College 13-12 this afternoon at Owl Stadium. It was the Lyons first win of the 2009 season. Ironically, Mount Holyoke also downed the Owls 13-12 when the two squads met last spring.
Eight players recorded points and seven scored goals for Mount Holyoke, which outshot the hosts 32-25. Sophomore attacker Clara Raugei netted a career best three goals, while first year midfielder Hilary Bombard added a goal and three assists. The Lyons also received a boost from first year midfielder Taylor Hedges, who found the net once and added an assist. Wefald amassed nine draw controls for the guests, who finished with an 18-9 advantage in the category.
Keene State (0-2, 0-0 LEC) was paced by sophomore attacker Jill Kirk, who posted four goals and an assist. Junior midfielder Dene Tully joined Kirk with four goals. Meanwhile, sophomore attacker Lauren Sawyer and first year midfielder Samantha Benson added two tallies apiece.
Mount Holyoke jumped out to a 3-0 lead just over five minutes into the contest, but Keene State rallied for the next four goals to go in front 4-3 with 17:47 remaining in the first half. Tully found the net twice during the Owls run.
The spurt came to an end at the 14:39 mark, when junior defender Kristen Cody took advantage of a free position opportunity to knot things up at 4-4. Hedges scored just over a minute later to give the Lyons a 5-4 edge. They led 7-6 at the break.
Mount Holyoke exploded for four goals in a two minute span in the early stages of the second stanza to open up an 11-7 cushion. Wefald found the net twice during the flurry, which was capped off by a Raugei free position tally at the 21:41 mark.
Refusing to go away, the Owls responded with a 4-0 run of their own. Tully and Kirk each found the net twice during the rally. Kirk’s fourth goal of the day knotted things up at 11-11 with 15:34 to go.
Raugei used a feed from Bombard to put Mount Holyoke in front 12-11 at the 13:02 mark. Wefald then recorded what proved to be the game winner off an assist from Hedges with 10:05 remaining in regulation.
Sawyer sliced the deficit to 13-12 in the final minute of play, but the Lyons won the ensuing draw control and ran out the clock.
Sophomore goalkeeper Missy Hartley made six saves en route to her first collegiate victory. At the other end, senior Jen Gearing turned away 11 shots
Mount Holyoke (1-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) will return to action on Thursday, when it visits Westfield State College for a non-conference tilt beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Lyons first home game will be on Thursday, March 26 versus Bridgewater State College at 4:30 p.m.