MIT Slips Past Lacrosse in Overtime, 13-11

Game Statistics

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (April 17, 2010) – Led by junior attacker Erica Little, the MIT women’s lacrosse team picked up a thrilling 13-11 overtime triumph over New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Mount Holyoke College this afternoon at Jack Berry Field. It was the Engineers eighth straight win over the Lyons. They now own sole possession of second place in the league.

Little exploded for eight goals, including what proved to be the game winner 1:51 into the extra session. She also chipped in with an assist in the contest. Senior attacker Casey Flynn added one goal and three helpers for the hosts, who picked up their fourth win in their last five outings.

Leading the way for Mount Holyoke was senior midfielder Perry Markell, who poured in five goals and collected five draw controls. Classmate Peggy Wefald found the back of the three times, and sophomore attacker Hilary Bombard tallied two goals and an assist. Wefald has now posted three goals or more in each of the Lyons last seven outings. She has totaled 10 hat tricks this year.

After trading goals over the first quarter of the game, MIT gained control behind three straight tallies by Little. Her third put the Engineers in front 6-4 at the 8:37 mark. Wefald put an end to the run with 6:08 remaining in the opening frame, but the hosts closed out the half with a pair of unanswered goals to push their lead to 8-5.

First year midfielder Molly McShane and Little tacked on two more goals in the early stages of the second stanza to push MIT’s cushion to 10-5.

Mount Holyoke clawed its way back into the contest with five consecutive goals over a span of 17:18. Bombard highlighted the rally with a pair of tallies. Her second knotted things up at 10-10 with 6:05 remaining in regulation.

Little’s seventh score of the day put the Engineers back in front at the 5:29 mark, but Markell recorded the equalizer with 4:11 to go. Her fifth goal of the day sent the contest to overtime.

MIT (8-4, 4-1 NEWMAC) converted both of its shots in overtime to seal things. Little found the net for what proved to be the winner just under two minutes into the extra period, and Flynn tacked on an insurance goal two minutes later.

The Lyons fell despite finishing with advantages in shots (32-26), draw controls (17-11) and ground balls (18-15).

Sophomore goalkeeper Allison Hamilos went the distance between the pipes for MIT, stopping 14 shots. At the other end, sophomore Jeanmarie Petersen and senior Jessica Brezicha split time and made four saves apiece.

Mount Holyoke (7-5, 2-3 NEWMAC) will put the finishing touches on its home slate on Tuesday, when it hosts longtime rival Smith College at 7:00 p.m.