CAMBRIDGE, Mass. –Lasell College field hockey fell to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 6-3 in the 2015 season opener on Tuesday evening. Senior Danielle Hottin (North Branford, Conn.) posted one goal and one assist for the Lasers, while sophomore Emily Penn (Elkridge, Md.) and senior Molly McNamara (Auburn, Mass.) collaborated for two goals during the final seven minutes of regulation to secure an MIT victory.
MIT wasted little time in testing Lasell's backline as it was awarded a penalty corner after a minute expired. Sophomore Katie Notarangelo's (Foxboro, Mass.) first attempt was blocked but she corralled the rebound and quickly found the back of the cage. The Engineers then increased their lead to 2-0 courtesy of a solo effort by Penn in the 12th minute.
The Lasers ended the shutout 49 seconds later when freshman Julia Franzik (Wallingford, Conn.) redirected a feed from Hottin following a penalty corner. After some back-and-forth action, the visitors registered the equalizer with just over eight minutes remaining in the half. The recipients of a penalty corner, freshman Cailin Flannery (Medford, N.J.) put a shot on net that was turned away by senior goalie Evie Kyritsis (Mountain Lakes, N.J.). Hottin collected the loose ball and knocked it in, tying the game at two. Lasell's defense fought off four penalty corners while sophomore goalie Denise Landry (New Milford, Conn.) came up with two saves down the stretch to preserve the deadlock heading into the intermission.
MIT continued to attack once action resumed, eventually claiming a 3-2 edge in the 45th minute. After securing their second penalty corner of the frame, senior Morgan Gulliver (Stamford, Conn.) connected on a pass from classmate Siobhan Rigby (Richmond, Va.) for the Engineers' go-ahead goal. Junior Courtney Braman (Gardner, Mass.) almost knotted the game moments after play restarted; however, her bid was denied by Kyritsis. The Cardinal and Gray replied by doubling its margin with McNamara tapping in the rebound of her previously saved shot with 13:32 on the clock.
Less than a minute following a Lasell timeout, Flannery emerged with the ball in her defensive end and led a full-field breakaway that saw her cut the Lasers' deficit to 4-3. MIT responded with three shots, two of which were on goal, before Penn gave the hosts some breathing room with 7:01 left to play. After the restart, the Engineers rattled off five more shots on net as Penn capped the scoring with just over a minute remaining in regulation.
Lasell almost made it a one-goal game in the 65th minute on a shot by senior Cristina Wilson (Wilmington, Mass.) but Kyristis made a sliding kick save at the near post. The Lasers' last bid came with 47 seconds remaining as Franzik's attempt was just wide of the net.
Kyritsis finished with six saves while Landry amassed 16 saves, including a stop on a penalty stroke in the first half.
Both squads will be at home for their next games. Lasell will host Eastern Connecticut Stat University on Saturday, September 5 at 12:00 p.m., while MIT will take on Simmons College on Thursday, Septemeber 3.
Recap Courtesy of MIT Sports Information