SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Goals from nine different scorers, including a game-best five off the stick of junior Deyscha Smith, lifted the Mount Holyoke College lacrosse team to a 16-8 victory over Gordon College. It was the season-opener for both squads.
The Lyons came out firing in the opening half, taking a 12-7 advantage through the first 30 minutes of action. In the second stanza though, the defense tightened up significantly on both sides. MHC took advantage in the opening eight minutes as Smith (Boston, Mass./Academy of the Pacific Rim) connected off a feed from senior Kaitlin Braz (Tolland, Conn./East Catholic) at the 26:47 mark.
Smith notched an assist less than four minutes later, sending a pass to junior Haley Subocz (Northampton, Mass./Northampton) for a 14-7 lead. Gordon, which tallied the final two goals of the opening half, edged back to within six (14-8) two minutes later as junior Olivia McCarrick (Glen Burnie, Md./Rockbridge Academy) scored on the free position.
Despite the momentum, the Fighting Scots were unable to get any closer as unassisted tallies from Braz and junior Morgan McNamara (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) helped strengthen the homestanding Lyons lead.
The visitors opened the game's scoring at the start as first year midfielder Katelyn Dyer converted a Greta Moore (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North), but four straight goals, including three from Smith, pushed the Lyons out to a 4-1 lead. Gordon struck back as sophomore Sabrina Jandreau (Winslow, Maine/Winslow) notched a free position goal, but four of the next five goals gave MHC an 8-3 edge with 18:46 to play.
Moore then scored a pair of tallies in a two minute frame to pull Gordon back to 8-5, but four straight goals, including the second of the contest for senior captain Leila Kouakou (Leeds, Mass./Northampton) made it seven-goal tilt with 4:33 remaining. The Fighting Scots fought back late with a pair of scores under the final 3:12, including a shot by McCarrick with 36 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
Mount Holyoke was led by Smith's five goals. She also added an assist with three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Braz added two tallies and had game-high totals in assists (3), ground balls (8) and caused turnovers (5). Kouakou added two goals and two assists with a game-best five draw controls, while senior defender Julia Lankin (West Hartford, Conn./Conard) chipped in with four ground balls and four draw control wins.
For the Fighting Scots, Dyer and Moore each recorded two goals with an assist. Moore added two draw control wins, while Dyer added four ground balls and a game-high five draws. McCarrick also had two tallies and a helper, in addition to five ground balls and three caused turnovers, while sophomore Molly Guthrie (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) notched four ground balls and team-high four caused turnovers.
In goal, the Lyons saw sophomore Mia Wysocki (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow) earn the victory, recording three saves over 47:49 minutes of action. Senior Clarissa Leight (Austin, Texas/Liberal Arts & Science Academy) came on in relief for the final 12:11 of the game and was not forced to make a stop.
For Gordon, first year Rebecca Resnick (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) shouldered the loss, making four saves over the first half of action. Classmate Kaitlyn Ober (Jurupa Valley, Calif./Patriot) came on in the second frame, posting four stops.
Overall, Mount Holyoke owned a 31-18 advantage in shots, while also holding a 37-25 margin in ground balls. The Lyons also owned a 14-11 margin in draw controls.
Mount Holyoke returns to action on Wednesday as it travels to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for a 6pm match against Skidmore. Gordon will be back on the field on Thursday, hosting Worcester State at 4pm.
