March 6, 2010

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In the inaugural meeting between both programs, the MIT women’s lacrosse team picked up a 15-9 win over Manhattanville College on Saturday. Casey Flynn posted a game-high five goals and three assists for the Engineers (1-0) while Darby Webber notched a hat-trick for the Valiants (0-2).

The opening frame was closely played as it featured five ties and three lead changes. A free position shot by Webber put her squad in front, 5-4, at the 7:26 mark, but MIT responded with four unanswered goals during the next six minutes to capture a lead it would not relinquish. Emelda Ogweta ended the Valiants’ scoring drought with one minute remaining before the break to make the score 8-6 in favor of the hosts.

Flynn was a factor in the Cardinal and Gray’s first three goals of the second half as she set up Katie Kauffman’s second marker of the day and then picked up a free position goal before adding a solo effort with 18:43 on the clock. Following its own timeout, Mahattanville reeled off three consecutive goals to narrow the gap to two (11-9). Melissa Goncalves recorded back-to-back markers with Ogweta and Kirsten Spelman earning the assists. Lauren Rutledge capped the spurt with an unassisted strike at 13:53. Erica Little and Stephanie Leger lit the lamp during the next two minutes to give MIT some breathing room. The tandem of Flynn and Little wrapped up the scoring for with each assisting on the other’s goal.

Little finished with three goals and an assist as Kauffman added five groundballs to her two goals. Leger posted four draw controls and three groundballs while Lauren Rodda collected five groundballs and three caused turnovers. Kelly Duncan found the back of the net twice as Alex Wright registered five caused turnovers and four groundballs. In her intercollegiate debut, goalie Allison Hamilos racked up nine saves.

In addition to her team-high scoring performance, Webber chipped in three draw controls and two groundballs for the Valiants. Rutledge and Goncalves finished with two goals apiece while Jen Ascencio tallied four draw controls, three groundballs, one goal and one assist. Ogweta compiled three draw controls, two caused turnovers, two groundballs, one goal, and one assist as Cybil Robinson chipped in three groundballs. In net, Kirstin Betsill gathered eight saves as Carolyn Levine stopped one shot in almost four minutes of action.

Both squads return to action on Saturday, March 13. MIT will travel to Bridgewater State College while Manhattanville will host Middle Atlantic Conference foe Lycoming College.