Bay Path Plays Spoiler on WLAX Senior Day

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Bay Path University women's lacrosse team picked up its first win of the season on Friday afternoon, topping Mitchell College by an 11-8 final in New England Collegiate Conference action at Alumni Field.

The Wildcats recorded a season-high 11 goals and were led by Samantha Rubacha, who finished with four scores and an assist in the victory. Joanna Feliciano and Megan McKenna each added hat tricks while goalie Kristina Tran made 15 saves.

Kate McCormack netted a game-high five goals to pace the Mariners. Francesca Pinard, Lindsey Fairbank and Daniella Holland also chipped in tallies while Hannah Corrigan scooped up a game-high nine ground balls.

McCormack and Pinard hooked up for two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the contest as Mitchell led 2-1 in the early going. Rubacha answered back with a pair of scores to give the Wildcats their first lead at 3-2, and the two sides exchanged goals over the final 10 minutes of the half as Bay Path clung to a 4-3 lead at the break.

Rubacha scored the first two goals of the second half to spark a 5-1 run for the Wildcats. McKenna accounted for a pair of goals during the stretch, which left the visitors with a 9-4 lead with 16:14 to play.

The Mariners closed the gap behind goals from Fairbank and Pinard—both on free position shots—to pull within three with 12:44 remaining. Mitchell would get no closer, however, as Jo Orrick and Feliciano added tallies over the final 10 minutes to counter any comeback.

Mitchell goalie Gillian MacLellan finished with 13 saves.

Prior to the game, the Mariners honored their four seniors – McCormack, Pinard, Allison Horton and Diana LeRoi – in a special ceremony.

Mitchell (1-8 overall, 0-4 NECC) will next host Dean College on Tuesday, April 23 at 4 p.m. Bay Path (1-9 overall, 1-3 NECC) returns to action at home against Southern Vermont College on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.