BOSTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team dropped its Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener to Roger Williams University, 22-5, on Saturday afternoon at Sweeney Field.
The Leopards drop to 1-4 overall, while the Hawks climb to 5-2 this season.
Hawks' rookie Delana Erickson (Concord, N.H.) broke open the scoring 2:53 into the contest, finishing off a pass from sophomore Shayne Rivard (Easton, Conn.). Junior Emily Stoeppel (Brookfield, Conn.) boosted the visitors' lead to 2-0 before Wentworth junior Jenna Tetreau (Dudley, Mass.) converted on a free position shot to cut the deficit 2-1. Roger Williams responded with five unanswered goals over a five-minute span – including two more goals from Stoeppel – to take a commanding 7-1 lead with 19:58 remaining in the half.
The Leopards found the back of the net twice before the halftime buzzer sounded, with back-to-back goals from sophomore Marissa Nelson (Cranston, R.I.) and freshman Emily Rogers (Pembroke, Mass.) for the 8-3 score. Strong defense from Roger Williams stopped the Leopards at three goals, adding seven of their own, including a free position goal from freshman Lauren Flahive (Foxborough, Mass.) that put the Hawks up ten goals for running clock until the final buzzer sounded.
Rogers completed her second hat-trick of the season to lead the Leopard attack and scooped up nine draw controls in the effort. Nelson and Tetreau finished with one goal apiece, their first of the season, respectively, while junior Brooke Paradis (Pelham, N.H.) dished out Wentworth's lone assist of the contest.
Five hawks finished with multi-goal performances, led by Stoeppel with five goals, two assists, nine ground balls, and eight draw controls. Senior Kaelin Hogan (Bethel, Conn.) followed with four goals, and four dimes, while Erickson and freshman Devon Sarazin (Falmouth, Maine) each finished with a hat trick. Freshman Isabella Blessington (Harpswell, Maine) (2) and junior Serena Murphy (Brewster, N.Y.) netted their first goals of the season, while sophomore Olivia Pelzar (Redding, Conn.), Rivard, Flahive and senior Carly Martin (Scituate, Mass.) rounded out the scoring for Roger Williams.
Freshman Lily Kuhns (Gloucester, Mass.) recorded 13 saves in between the pipes for Wentworth, while sophomore Lydia Nelson (Center Moriches, N.Y.) and freshman Addie Di Scipio (Falls Church, Va.) split time in net for the Hawks. Nelson made four saves and earned her fifth win of the season, while Di Scipio stopped two shots in second-half relief.
Wentworth is back inaction on Tuesday for a 4:00 p.m. conference tilt at Nichols.
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