WORCESTER, Mass. – First-year Milica Simic (Park Ridge, Ill.) led Wellesley College lacrosse to a 14-10 NEWMAC win over Clark University with six goals and an assist on Friday night at Granger Athletic Complex.
In addition to Simic, the Blue (4-7 Overall, 2-4 NEWMAC) benefitted from hat-tricks by sophomore Charlotte Petersen-Kopman (St. Louis, Mo.) and first-year Eliza Wysong (Kansas City, Mo.). Petersen-Kopman had two assists while Wysong won six draw controls. Senior goalie Anna Blake Patrick (Portland, Ore.) earned the win with a season-high 11 saves over 60 minutes.
The Cougars (2-7 Overall, 0-4 NEWMAC) saw four goals from both Sophomore Sydney McMonagle (Trappe, Pa.) and first-year Jasmine Peters (Duluth, Ga.). Senior Elizabeth Cacciapaglia (Ridgefield, Conn.) won six draw controls. First-year Ella Forsman (Decatur, Ga.) made six stops in goal.
Each team scored four goals in an evenly matched opening period. Simic scored twice, Petersen-Kopman recorded a goal and an assist and Wysong put in a shot for the Blue. Four different members of the Cougars each scored a goal in the frame.
The team each scored a pair of goals in the first eight minutes of the second quarter. Simic and sophomore Amelia Woodard (Montpelier, Vt.) did the damage for Wellesley. McMonagle and Peters tallied for Clark. The visiting Blue recorded two goals in the final three minutes of the first half to take an 8-6 edge. Simic scored a fourth and fifth goal of the game.
Clark opened the second half with goals from Peters and McMonagle to knot it up at 8-8. From there, the Blue launched a 4-0 barrage, led by a pair of goals from Petersen-Kopman. A late McMonagle goal made the score 12-9 in Wellesley's favor after three periods of action.
Wysong connected on a free-position shot in the opening minute of the fourth to extend the Blue's margin to four at 13-9. Peters cut it to 13-10 with a Clark tally with 5:27 left to play. A Wysong goal quickly extinguished any comeback effort to ensure a conference win for the Blue.
Each team plays a road contest on Wednesday, April 8. The Blue heads over to Coast Guard Academy for a 6:00 PM game while Clark plays at Babson College at 4:00 PM.
