MIT Uses Big First Half to Down Southern Maine 18-12

Freshman Hannah LaSalle had a goal, four ground balls and three draw controls for the Huskies against MIT.

(Courtesy of USM with contributions from MIT Sports Information)

Huskies Host Western Connecticut on Saturday

            CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Freshman Cecilia McCormick (Islip, N.Y.) and junior Hannah Levy (Yardley, Penn.) combined for 10 goals and two assists as the MIT women's lacrosse used a big first half to post an 18-12 victory over the University of Southern Maine in a non-conference game Tuesday evening at Jack Barry Field.

            The win was the fourth straight for the Engineers who reached the 10-win plateau for the third straight year and are now 10-3 overall.  The Huskies dropped their second straight game to fall to 3-8 overall.

            For the second straight game, the Huskies fell behind by 10 goals in the first half before
staging a strong second half.  The Huskies outscored the Engineers 7-3 in the second half to close the gap.

            McCormick scored all five of her goals, and Levy added three, as the Engineers piled up a 15-5 advantage by halftime.  McCormick and Levy scored to give MIT a 2-0 lead before USM senior Sarah Pelligrinelli (Southington, Conn.) and rookie Hannah LaSalle (Humarock, Mass./Marshfield) found the net to tie the score just over four minutes into the game.

            Over the next 14 minutes, the Engineers blitzed the Huskies for a 10-1 run to take a commanding 12-3 lead.  McCormick had three goals and senior Nadia Wallace (Rochester, N.Y.) scored twice during the run.

            Southern Maine opened the second half with a 4-1 run over the first 10 minutes to cut the margin to 16-9.  Juniors Sam Campobasso (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) and Heather Everett (Waterboro, Maine/Massabesic), rookie Kenzie Kidder (Lyman, Maine/Massabesic) and Pelligrinelli each scored a goal for the Huskies, but only goal over the middle 10 minutes would belong to Wallace.

            Pelligrinelli finished the game leading the Huskies' offense with four goals and one assists.  Campobasso and Everett had two goals and one assist apiece, and Kidder contributed two goals.  Everett had an outstanding all-around game scooping up seven ground balls, snagging six draw controls and causing two turnovers.  Senior goalie Caley Presby (Portland, Maine/Deering) had a save-high 18 saves.

            McCormick and Levy each had five goals and one assist.  Wallace finished with three goals and one assist, and senior Kira Schott (New Canaan, Conn.) had a hat trick.  Sophomore goalie Eva Boal (Princeton Junction, N.J.) stopped 11 shots to earn her 10th win of the season.
 
            Southern Maine will host Western Connecticut State University for a Little East Conference game on Saturday (12:00 p.m.).  MIT will play a NEWMAC game tomorrow night (7:00 p.m.) at Wheaton College.