For Immediate Release
April 4, 2009
Wellesley Sports Information
Courtesy Smith Sports Information
Strong Second Half Leads Wellesley Lacrosse to 16-9 Win Over Smith
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Meredith Roy (Merrimack, NH) and Caitlin Meeker (Columbia, MD) led the Wellesley College lacrosse team to a victory over NEWMAC opponent Smith College. With the score tied at 6-6 at the break, the Blue used a strong second half to defeat the Pioneers, 16-9.
In the first half scoring was back and forth between the Pioneers and the Blue. Wellesley managed to get on the board first with an unassisted goal by Roy at 28:00. Less than two minutes later Sofia Nakhnikian-Weintraub (Eugene, OR) tied the game up at 1-1 off of a feed from Mary Pasini (Columbus, OH).
Wellesley would score the next three goals to take a 4-1 lead with twenty minutes to play in the first. Blair Rapalyea (Prides Crossing, MA) brought the Pioneers within 2 goals at the 18:48 mark. Wellesley and Smith exchanged goals until the Pioneers went on a 3-0 scoring streak to tie the game at 6-6 going into the break.
Wellesley came out strong in the second half taking the 9-6 lead with 25:00 minutes to play in the game. Pasini and Fileti scored two in a row for Smith at 23:46 and 22:12 to bring the Pioneers within one; however, the Blue answered right back with goals coming from Roy and Meeker at 21:24 and 20:46. Michelle Walsh's (Northampton, MA) goal at 19:44 would be the last for the Pioneers as Wellesley went on to score the final five goals of the game to take the 16-9 victory.
Mary Mattia (Atlanta, GA) earned the win in net for the Blue with 17 saves on the game. Chelsea Henderson (White Plains, NY) and Liz Niehoff (Bronxville, NY) shared time in goal for the Pioneers this afternoon. Both stopped five shots for Smith.
Offensively for the Blue, Roy tallied four goals and an assist for five points while Meeker netted four scores. Jenny Holland (Bethesda, MD) scored three times and added a helper while Molly Morrow (Bow, NH) and Loretta White (Northampton, MA) each scored twice and assisted a score.
Also for Wellesley, Roy recorded six ground balls while Kate Cushing (Danvers, MA) chipped in with five. Cushing also contributed five draw controls while Morrow and Nicole Labbee (Florence, MA) each caused two turnovers.
Smith will be back in action on Thursday, April 9 at 4:30 pm as they travel to take on New England. Wellesley returns to the field on Tuesday playing a 4:30pm game at Eastern Connecticut State University.