Big First Half Propels Engineers Past Southern Maine, 18-12

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The MIT women's lacrosse team generated a 15-5 advantage through the first 30 minutes of action as it went on to record an 18-12 victory over the University of Southern Maine on Tuesday night at Jack Barry Field. Freshman Cecilia McCormick (Islip, N.Y.) and junior Hannah Levy (Yardley, Pa.) both produced five goals and an assist for the Engineers (10-3), who recorded their third straight 10-win season. Senior Sarah Pelligrinelli (Southington, Conn.) paced the Huskies (3-8) with five points on four goals and an assist.

MIT jumped out to a 2-0 lead courtesy of strikes by McCormick and Levy; however, Southern Maine
quickly tied things up. Pelligrinelli's free-position shot put the Huskies on the board while freshman Hannah Lasalle evened the score at the 25:55 mark. A minute later, a free-position strike by senior Kira Schott (New Canaan, Conn.) ignited a 13-3 run that was capped by McCormick on a feed from junior Devin Williams (Washington, D.C.) with 28 seconds left in the half.

Southern Maine controlled the action in the second stanza as it outscored the hosts, 7-3, and forced 19 turnovers. Pelligrinelli, freshman Kenzie Kidder (Lyman, Maine) and junior Sam Campobasso (Buxton, Maine) each scored twice down the stretch.

Schott finished with a hat trick and four draw controls while senior Nadia Wallace (Rochester, N.Y.) totaled three goals and an assist. Sophomore Jacqueline Simmons (Houston, Texas) racked up a game-high eight groundballs, followed by five from freshman Ana Flooks (Weston, Conn.). Notarangelo collected five draw controls as senior Christine Jiang (Canton, Mich.) generated two caused turnovers.

Junior Heather Everett (Waterboro, Maine) tallied two goals, one assist, seven groundballs, six draw controls, and two caused turnovers for the Huskies. Campobasso also posted two goals and an assist while Lasalle compiled one goal, one assist, four groundballs, three draw controls, and two caused turnovers. Senior Shauna Robert (Lyman, Maine) chipped in four draw controls as senior goalie Caley Presby (Portland, Maine) racked up 18 saves.

Both squads return to conference play in their next outings. MIT will travel to NEWMAC rival Wheaton College on Wednesday, April 20 while Southern Maine will host Little East Conference foe Western Connecticut State University on Saturday, April 23.