CAMBRIDGE - No. 17 MIT scored just over 90 seconds into the game and never looked back as it cruised to a 21-4 victory over Smith College in NEWMAC women's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Ashley Thomas and senior Ellie Rabenold both produced seven points for the Engineers (13-3, 7-2 NEWMAC) while Kyra Hawk (San Jose, CA/The Harker School) led the Pioneers (8-9, 5-5) with two goals and an assist.

Game Highlights

• Senior Meredith Arterburn redirected a feed from Thomas after 1:32 elapsed, kicking off a string of seven straight goals in the opening quarter. Thomas was a factor in four goals as she added two goals and an assist in the frame.
•  MIT's advantage increased three more during the first three minutes of the second stanza. Hawk ended the shutout at the 10:49 mark, however, junior Julianne Flusche replied with back-to-back goals, moving the score to 12-1. Hawk followed with a goal and then set up Caroline Sanders (Orange County, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic) with 3:50 left in the frame. The Engineers countered with three goals in a row, resulting in a 15-3 halftime advantage. Rabenold earned an assist on a blast by sophomore Monica Petulla and then Rabenold found the back of the net twice.
• MIT rattled off four unanswered goals in the third quarter and added free-position goals by Flusche and first-year Jillian Butler in the fourth quarter. Jennie Arancio (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) ended Smith's scoring drought courtesy of a solo effort with 1:38 remaining in the game.

By the Numbers

•  Sanders led all players with six draw controls to go along with two groundballs as Leigh Hillmanno (Yardville, NJ/Princeton Day School) posted three caused turnovers and three groundballs. Arrancio chipped in three draw controls while Maya Wang (Lafayette, CA/Acalanes) contributed two caused turnovers and two draw controls.
• In net, Shannon Houtenville (East Windsor, NJ/Highstown) made four saves in the first quarter as Brooke Testa (Pittstown, NJ/Delaware Valley) closed out the game with four saves.

Up Next
Smit will wait for NEWMAC Tournament seedings which will be announced on the evening of Wednesday, April 24. 

(Recap courtesy to MIT Athletics Communications)

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.