Wheaton Holds Off Lacrosse, 16-14
NORTON, Mass. (March 28, 2009) – First year midfielder Brittany Whynot racked up a season best six goals to boost the Wheaton College women’s lacrosse team to a thrilling 16-14 victory over Mount Holyoke College this afternoon at Keefe Field. It was the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both squads.
Mount Holyoke rallied for four straight goals down the stretch to slice the deficit to 15-14 in the final minute of regulation, but junior midfielder Brittany King found the net in the waning seconds to seal things for the hosts. It was Wheaton’s 14th straight triumph over Mount Holyoke.
King finished with five points on four goals and a helper. Meanwhile, senior midfielder Bridget Thornton totaled one goal, four assists and six draw controls. Wheaton posted an 18-14 edge in draw controls.
Senior midfielder Ava Gottschall and junior midfielder Peggy Wefald recorded five goals apiece to lead Mount Holyoke. The visitors also received solid production from sophomore attacker Clara Raugei, who found the net twice. Mount Holyoke finished with a 32-30 advantage in the shot column.
Neither team led by more than two goals in a first half that saw four ties and two lead changes. Mount Holyoke tallied three straight goals to take a 5-3 edge at the 7:29 mark, but Wheaton closed out the half with a 3-0 run of its own to take a 6-5 advantage into the break. Whynot recorded a hat trick before the intermission.
The hosts took control of the game with a four goal explosion midway through the second stanza. King tallied twice during the spurt, which spanned just under five minutes. Sophomore midfielder Tess Myer’s second goal of the half put Wheaton in front 12-7 at the 17:51 mark.
Trailing 15-10 with just 7:20 remaining in regulation, Mount Holyoke staged a furious comeback to make things interesting. Gottschall got things going with three straight goals, and Wefald cut the deficit to 15-14 with 26 seconds to go. From there, King iced things with her fourth tally of the day.
Wheaton sophomore goalkeeper Marianna Marcellino turned away 11 shots. At the other end, sophomore Missy Hartley made eight saves for the guests.
Mount Holyoke (3-4, 0-1 NEWMAC) will return to action on Wednesday, when it hosts non-conference foe Eastern Connecticut State University at 4:30 p.m.