CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Junior Nikki Sharkin (Summit, N.J.) recorded a hat trick but Wellesley College lacrosse fell to host MIT, 20-9, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's lacrosse play on a chilly Wednesday evening at Jack Barry Field. 

The Engineers won for the fifth time in their last six outings, improving to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play. The Blue fall to 5-5 on the season and 0-2 in the NEWMAC with the setback. 

Sharkin chipped in with a team-high four ground balls for the Blue. Wellesley also got goals from first years Lena Engbretson (Beaverton, Ore.) and Olivia Strobl (Stafford, Va.), sophomores Mayu Kikuchi (Villanova, Pa.) and Jenny Gubner (Pleasanton, Calif.) and juniors Mary Lemay (Longmeadow, Mass.) and Courtney Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.). Engbretson also added one assist, three groundballs, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers. On defense, sophomore Jenna Mulrenan (Glen Ridge, N.J.) picked up four groundballs.

Junior Hannah Levy (Yardley, Pa.) paced MIT with a game-high six points on three goals and three assists. First year Cecilia McCormick (Islip, N.Y.) finished with three goals and two assists, while seniors Kristyn Berretta (San Diego, Calif.) and Kira Schott (New Canaan, Conn.)  both recorded hat tricks. Sophomore Katie Notarangelo (Foxboro, Mass.) added four goals, five draw controls, and three groundballs. Sophomore Emily Young (LaJolla, Calif.) recoreded four points on two goals and two assists, while also collecting six draw controls.

MIT outshot the Blue 33-26 in the contest, opening the game with three-straight goals before the Blue countered with back-to-back goals from Peterson and Lemay at 18:30 and 17:46.

With Wellesley back within one, MIT poured in five-straight goals to jump to an 8-2 lead at 9:58 of the first. McCormick netted a pair of goals, both on assists from Levy, before Levy capped the run with her first of the game. Sharkin scored a pair of goals in the final nine minutes of the half, but MIT would also add three more to take an 11-4 edge at the break.

Strobl opened the second half with a goal for the Blue, but the Engineers would go on to outscore the visitors 9-3 for the remainder of the period to earn the 20-9 victory.

In goal, MIT sophomore Eva Boal (Princeton Junction, N.J.) made 10 saves to pick up her seventh win (7-3) of the year. Junior Wendy Nettleton (La Jolla, Calif.) and first year Chloe Tucker (San Ramon, Calif.) combined to make six saves, with Tucker turning back four in the second half.

The Blue held a slight edge in ground balls (21-16) while committing just 18 turnovers to the Engineers' 22. MIT held a substantial edge in draw controls (22-9) and took advantage of six of seven free position shots.

The Blue will look to rebound on Saturday, April 9, when they host Smith in their first NEWMAC home tilt of the year at 1:00 PM. MIT will also play the Pioneers in their next contest on Wednesday, April 13, 17 7:00 PM.