Eastern Connecticut State pulls away in second half to top lacrosse

Hannah Bisson scored three goals and added an assist in Mount Holyoke's loss to Eastern Connecticut State on March 2, 2024. (RJB Sports file photo)
Hannah Bisson scored three goals and added an assist in Mount Holyoke's loss to Eastern Connecticut State on March 2, 2024. (RJB Sports file photo)

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Emi Bisson and Hannah Bisson scored three goals apiece for the Mount Holyoke College lacrosse team, but visiting Eastern Connecticut State University got seven goals from Alexa Vizzini en route to a 23-8 non-conference win Saturday at the MHC Turf.

Eastern (2-1) scored nine straight goals in the first half to turn a 1-1 tie into a 10-1 lead. Mount Holyoke (0-3) responded with a 5-2 run to close the gap to 12-6 before Vizzini scored to make it 13-6 at halftime. The Warriors outscored the Lyons 5-1 in both the third and fourth quarters, building a double-digit lead halfway through the third quarter and opening it up to 15 with five straight goals to end the game.

Sophomore Emi Bisson (Chester, Conn.) had three goals, two assists and a season-high 10 draw controls for Mount Holyoke. Senior captain Hannah Bisson (South Hadley, Mass.) scored on a feed from Emi Bisson to tie the game 1-1 with her first tally of the season, and finished with three goals on three shots with one assist.

Sophomores Langley Berat (New York, N.Y.) and Elle Mader (Cincinnati, Ohio) also scored for Mount Holyoke, and sophomore Amelia Knaysi (Grand Junction, Colo.) had an assist. Senior Caroline Thompson (Harwich, Mass.) had two caused turnovers for the Lyons.

Vizzini totaled seven goals, two assists and four ground balls for Eastern, while Jessie Pyrek-Bennett added four goals, two assists and four ground balls. Kaylee Drobish matched Emi Bisson with 10 draw controls to go with a goal and an assist. Katie Campbell and Claire Riccitelli-Pestana scored two goals apiece.

Mount Holyoke first-year goalie Syd Baker (Needham, Mass.) made eight saves. Mackenzie Brown had three saves in the first half for Eastern, and Savannah Goodness had one save in goal during the second half.

Mount Holyoke will host Fitchburg State on Saturday, March 9 at 1pm.