SVC Tops Women's Lacrosse

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Southern Vermont College outscored Mitchell College 6-3 in the second half en route to a 15-12 victory in New England Collegiate Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.

Mel Orrell led the Mountaineers (2-5 overall, 2-1 NECC) with seven goals and two assists in the contest. Lauren Nesshoever added four goals and an assist while Emily Lesure tacked on a hat trick.

Ashley Murtha netted a game-high eight goals to lead the Mariners (3-3 overall, 2-1 NECC). Kate McCormack finished with a pair of scores while Katie McBride and Taylor Saja also added tallies.

Mitchell started the game down a player due to an illegal stick, but McBride won the opening draw and marched in for the quick score. Lesure tied the game four minutes later, but the Mariners responded with two goals in a 36-second span to go up 3-1.

Orrell pushed her team back into the lead over a 2:24 stretch that saw her net a pair of goals and assist on another. After a goal by Murtha evened the game at 4-4, Southern Vermont scored the next four to take its biggest lead of the day.

Trailing 9-5 with 12:49 to go in the half, Mitchell slowly worked its way back into the game. Saja swept in her first career goal to start the rally, and Murtha scored twice in a 14-second span to pull the Mariners within one. McCormack later tied the game at 9-9 with 5:41 remaining to cap the first-half scoring.

The Mountaineers scored twice in the opening 1:11 of the second half to seize control for good. Orrell and Nesshoever provided all of the firepower for SVC, each contributing a goal in the spurt and three apiece in the half. Murtha accounted for all three Mitchell goals in the stanza.

Southern Vermont won 19 of 29 draw controls on the day and held a 35-20 advantage in ground balls. SVC goalie Sydnee Julian made four saves against 23 shots to record her first career win. Mitchell goalie Samantha Ryan made 18 stops against 49 shots in the loss.

Mitchell will next host the University of Saint Joseph on Thursday, April 14 at 4 p.m. Southern Vermont returns to action at New England College on Sunday, April 10 at 1 p.m.