BABSON PARK, Mass. (Apr. 20, 2013) - Behind goals from five different players and a 16 save effort from senior Liz Malenfant, the Mount Holyoke College lacrosse team posted a 9-7 victory over Babson College in NEWMAC action on Saturday. With the win, the Lyons clinch the second-seed in the conference playoffs, moving to 11-3 overall and 4-2 in NEWMAC play. The Beavers slip to 6-7 and 3-3 in the conference standings.
A slow start to the game turned into a Mount Holyoke advantage as junior Brianne Phelan struck first to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at the 20:24 mark. The Beavers wasted little time in tying the action as Jameson Sprang converted a shot past Malenfant less than a minute later to make it 1-all.
Senior Molly Macdonald fired a shot in at 17:28 to give MHC the lead, but back-to-back tallies by Kayla Farina made it a 3-2 advantage for Babson with 15:01 remaining in the 
opening half. The Lyons refused to back down and a second tally from Phelan, combined with an unassisted marker from sophomore Kirsten Kilburn gave MHC a 4-3 lead with 3:22 on the clock.
Babson was able to tie it on a Misha Beatty goal, but first year Julia Bell's first goal of the game with 26 seconds remaining made it a 5-4 advantage for Mount Holyoke heading into halftime.
In the second stanza, Macdonald picked up where she left off, rifling in her second of the contest at the 23:23 mark. Babson countered to make it 6-5, but another goal from Macdonald, along with scores from junior Naomi Miller and Bell gave the Lyons a 9-5 advantage with 10:03 left in the game.
Babson was able to find the back of the net twice over the final 2:18 of the game, but the Lyons defense held strong for the 9-7 victory.
In addition to Macdonald, who had a game-best three goals, Bell added two goals and two assists with two ground balls, three draw controls and two caused turnovers. Phelan also had two goals with a helper, while Kilburn added a goal and an assist.
For Babson, Farnia had two goals, while five others also had a goal. In the net, Julie Baharestani made 12 saves.
Babson will wrap up its regular season with a non-conference home game against Endicott College on Sunday afternoon at 12pm while Mount Holyoke will await its seeding an opponent for next weekend's NEWMAC Tournament.
