BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Jessica Houghton (Billerica, Mass.) registered six points, including the game-winning goal and became the first player in program history to register 100 career points, as the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team defeated Massachusetts Maritime Academy 12-10 in overtime in a non-conference contest on Sweeney Field.
Wentworth snaps a three-game losing skid to stand at 4-8, giving the Black and Gold the most wins in their three-year program history. The Buccaneers are now 5-7.
Mass. Maritime got on the board first thanks to a goal 27 seconds in from sophomore Ashley Solari (Sandwich, Mass.) with freshman Stephanie Hunt (Brookfield, Conn.) on the assist. 30 seconds later, Houghton got the Leopards on the board to even things at one. The Buccaneers regained the lead at 26:00, this time with Hunt assisting Solari on the score. Wentworth took the lead by scoring two straight, first with junior Pam Mudge's (Hooksett, N.H.) unassisted marker and then a goal from sophomore Molly Dufresne (Plaistow, N.H.). Mass Maritime tied the contest at three thanks to another goal by Hunt assisted by Solari.
Wentworth would score the next three to take a 6-3 lead at the break. First, sophomore Brandie Holland (Lynn, Mass.) put the Leopards on top at 8:33 with an unassisted score. Then sophomore Amanda Dexter (Lynn, Mass) added a score, and finally Houghton scored her second of the first half.
Hunt scored her third goal of the afternoon to begin the second half. Houghton responded with a goal at 23:27. Mudge added her second goal of the night to extend the lead to four. Solari scored her 22nd goal of the season to make it 8-5. At 12:55, Houghton scored to give her 100 career points. The Buccaneers then scored four straight goals to tie it 9-9, with junior Molly Smith (Westwood, Mass.) scoring a pair and sophomore Christina Murphy (Forestdale, Mass.) and Solari each adding one.
Senior Alexandrea Banks (Ellington, Conn.) put the Leopards up 10-9 with under 4:49 remaining, but Smith tied it up with 38 seconds remaining, forcing overtime.
Houghton scored a minute into overtime for the eventual game-winning goal. Dufresne added an insurance goal with 2:33 remaining to give Wentworth the 12-10 win.
Houghton had five goals and an assist while collecting seven ground balls and causing three turnovers. Dufresne had a pair of goals and an assist, Mudge had two goals, and Banks and Holland had a goal and an assist each. Senior Beverly Farris (Palmer, Mass.) had six ground balls and four caused turnovers while Banks also had six ground balls and caused five turnovers.
Solari and Hunt had three goals and two assists each with Smith scoring three times and assisting on a fourth and Murphy scoring a goal and adding two assists. Freshman Mikayla Correia (Dartmouth, Mass.) and sophomore Dahlia Seggelin (Sharon, Mass.) had seven ground balls each while freshman Jamie Hayes (Stonington, Conn.) caused four turnovers.
Senior Robyn Pacini (Stoneham, Mass.) made 14 saves in the win while Correia made nine stops. Mass. Maritime had advantages in shots (30-27) and ground balls (42-40) while Wentworth held a 16-10 draw control edge.
Wentworth finishes its season at home against Commonwealth Coast Conference foe Western New England on Wednesday night. Mass Maritime returns home Wednesday for a conference game of its own against Worcester State.
