For Immediate Release
April 11, 2009
Wellesley Sports Information
Wellesley Lacrosse Downs Mount Holyoke
WELLESLEY, Mass. – Junior Molly Morrow (Bow, NH) recorded a career-high 12 points as the Wellesley lacrosse team downed conference-foe Mount Holyoke, 19-9, on a rainy and cold afternoon in Wellesley. The visiting Lyons fall to 3-8 on the season, 0-3 against New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference foes. The Blue lift their record to 7-4 overall, 2-0 in the NEWMAC.
Morrow put Wellesley up early with an unassisted goal just over a minute into the game, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead. Mount Holyoke answered two minutes later, when Peggy Wefald (Granger, IN) with an unassisted goal to tie the score at 1-1.
Wellesley then used strong all-around play over the next 20 minutes to break the game open. Taking advantage of an 11-6 first-period edge in ground balls, an 8-5 edge in draw controls, and 15 Lyon turnovers, the Blue went on a 9-0 run with four more goals from Morrow, three from Jenny Holland (Bethesda, MD), and one each from Caitlin Meeker (Columbia, MD) and Meredith Roy (Merrimack, NH). Eva Gottschall (Amherst, MA) found the net for Mount Holyoke just before halftime, sending the teams into the break with the score at 10-2.
The second half proved to be a much more even affair. Wellesley opened the period quickly, as Loretta White (Northampton, MA) and Holland each scored in the first minute to stretch the lead to 12-2. But momentum swung to Mount Holyoke as the visitors outscored the hosts 6-3 over the next 15 minutes, with four more goals from Wefald and two from Gottschall, to trim the lead to 15-8 with 11:35 remaining.
As conditions worsened, however, Wellesley was able to slow the Lyon attack while tallying four unanswered goals themselves, including two more from Morrow, to extend the lead to 19-8 at the 2:53 mark. Wefald added another point for the Lyons in the closing minute, making the final score 19-9.
Wefald finished with six goals on six shots for the Lyons, with four ground balls, four draw controls, and three caused turnovers. Gottschall tallied three goals on eight shots, while Taylor Hedges (Longmeadow, MA) added two ground balls and three draw controls. Hilary Bombard (Northampton, MA) also picked up three ground balls and notched three caused turnovers. Missy Hartley (Berthoud, CO) took the loss in the net for Mount Holyoke, while recording three saves.
For the Blue, Morrow had a career-day with eight goals, four assists, and three draw controls. Holland added six goals and one assist, while White chipped in two goals, one assist, four ground balls, four draw controls and three caused turnovers. Rounding out the scoring for Wellesley, Roy, Meeker, and Briana Roberge tallied one goal a piece. Roy also recorded three ground balls, three draw controls, and two caused turnovers. Katie Saylor (San Diego, CA) and Kate Cushing (Danvers, MA) also had solid defensive performances, combining for three ground balls and three draw controls while tallying two caused turnovers a piece. Mary Mattia (Atlanta, GA) got the win in the net, while making eight saves.
Mount Holyoke takes the field again on Tuesday, April 14, at 7:00 p.m., when they host Springfield College in a NEWMAC match-up. Wellesley also returns to action on Tuesday at 7:00, when they travel to cross-town rival Babson College.