SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Nine different players recorded at least one point, including a game-best seven from junior Bianca Raniolo, to lead the Springfield College lacrosse team past Mount Holyoke College, 16-3 in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday. With the victory, the #20 Pride improve to 10-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play, while the Lyons slip to 4-6 and 1-3 in the NEWMAC.
Springfield got things going early, jumping out to a 3-0 lead within the first five minutes of the contest. Graduate student and midfielder Kerstin Lindrooth (Bryn Athyn, Pa./Academy of the New Church) converted on a behind-the-net pass from Raniolo (Yorktown, N.Y./Yorktown) and senior attack Michelle Dorsey (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug) netted consecutive goals to give the Pride the three-goal lead with 25:32 to play.
Junior Heather Raniolo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) pushed it to a 4-0 lead following a free position tally, but the homestanding Lyons were able to answer at the 20:14 mark as senior midfielder Kirsten Kilburn (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) converted a pass from junior attacker Julia Bell (Longmeadow, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson). The goal for Kilburn marked the 200th point of her career.
Springfield controlled momentum over the final 19:15 of the half as Heather Raniolo added back-to-back goals. The Pride held a 16-6 advantage in shots through the opening 30 minutes, holding a 12-10 ground ball advantage and an 8-13 edge in clears.
Lindrooth, who scored the final goal of the opening stanza, got things going in the second period as she fired in a great pass by Bianca Raniolo at the feet of keeper Isa Rodriguez (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville School). Raniolo then added a wrap-around goal off an assist from Heather Raniolo to make it a 10-1 edge for the Pride.
Mount Holyoke got one back as junior attack Catherine Ryan (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow) sent the ball past the reach of Springfield's Carley Elkin (Guilford, Conn./Guilford), but the Pride continued to roll, going on a 6-0 run over an 11-minute span. In addition to goals from Lindrooth and Raniolo, Dorsey, first year attack Shelby Corsano (Bourne, Mass./Bourne), senior attack Colleen Keeley (Agawam, Mass./Agawam) and first year midfielder Kristen Steidler (Somers, Conn./Somers) also scored.
Bell was able to tack on the final tally for the Lyons with 5:27 to go, connecting off a nice pass from the right side by Ryan, but the Pride took advantage of the clock to hold for the win.
Lindrooth led all scorers with four goals, while Bianca Raniolo added three goals and a game-best four assists. Heather Raniolo chipped in with three goals and three assists, while Dorsey also added three goals with a pair of helpers. In goal, Springfield starter Gabriella Anderson (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) posted the win, stopping three shots in the opening half. Elkin came on in relief and stopped four shots.
MHC saw Bell record a goal with two assists, while Ryan also had a goal and an assist. Kilburn had the Lyons other tally, while Rodriguez shouldered the loss with a four-save effort. She was relieved by first year Clarissa Leight (Austin, Texas/Liberal Arts & Science Academy), who made one stop over the final 2:45 of action.
Mount Holyoke returns to action on Wednesday, when it travels to Coast Guard for a 7pm game against the Bears. Springfield is back on the field on April 11, hosting Wheaton at 1pm.
