SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - Powered by goals from five different players, the Mount Holyoke College field hockey team posted a 5-0 shutout over Thomas College on Sunday morning. Winners of their last two contests, the Lyons improve to 4-2 overall. The Terriers slip to 1-4 on the young season.
Mount Holyoke jumped out to the early advantage, scoring at the 3:00 mark behind a tally from sophomore forward Anna Ballou (South Deerfield, Mass./Deerfield Academy). Senior captain Sophie Perekslis (Millerton, N.Y./Berkshire School) fired in the original shot, but her attempt was saved by Thomas's Leah Kruse (Norridgewock, Maine/Skowhegan). The ball made a quick left carom out to Ballou, who buried it into the open left corner. Just over 4:15 later, the Lyons grabbed the 2-0 edge as Perekslis chipped in the shot from close range off a pass from senior captain Kaitlin Braz (Tolland, Conn./East Catholic).
The home team made it a three-goal lead at the 15:01 mark as junior Mirjam Keochakian (Hamburg, Germany/Deerfield Academy) sent a long cross through the circle to the left side. Senior captain Kathryn Rawson (Old Town, Maine/Old Town) was there at the left post, sending a shot past the reach of Kruse.
Thomas, which was held to just two shots in the contest, nearly broke onto the scoreboard at 50:11 as sophomore midfielder Danita Storey (Cumberland Ctr., Maine/Greely) battled past an MHC defender for a clear shot on goal. Lyons keeper Gianna Molinari (Windsor Locks, Conn./Northwest Catholic) came out to make the stop, kicking it out of danger to preserve the advantage.
Senior defender Julia Lankin (West Hartford, Conn./Conard) made it a 5-0 lead at 61:31 after a great stick-to-stick play. Junior captain Colby Newsham (Harvard, Mass./Bromfield School) earned the assist after she corralled a ball from Rawson at the left corner. Newsham sent a cross barrelling into the middle past the goalie to Lankin, who buried it at full speed.
Mount Holyoke closed out the scoring with no time remaining, earning a penalty corner as the clock expired. The ball was sent into the middle of the circle and off the stick of junior Liz Delorme (Florence, Mass./Bellingham) as it arched over the goaltender. Sophomore forward Micaela Pierce (Newton, Mass./Beaver Country Day School) came in on the backside, knocking it into the open net for her first collegiate goal.
The Lyons, who held a 27-2 edge in shots and a 14-1 advantage in penalty corners, saw starter Morgan Turner (Chester, N.J./West Morris Mendham) earn the win. She was not forced to make a save through the opening half of action. Molinari came on for 29:19 of relief, making one stop, while rookie Maddie Miller (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead) played the final 5:41 and was not forced to make a stop.
For Thomas, Kruse made a number of outstanding saves, finishing with 13 overall in the defeat.
Mount Holyoke returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts Wesleyan at 7pm on the turf field. Thomas is also in action on Wednesday in a 7pm contest at Bates.
