NORTON, Mass. (April 8, 2026) – Wheaton College scored the first seven goals to take control on its way to a 14-8 victory over Emerson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's lacrosse matchup at Diane Nordin, '80 Field tonight.
First year Kaydie O'Neil paced the Wheaton attack with three goals and an assist with three draw controls, five caused turnovers and seven ground balls. Junior Georgia Qua and sophomore Emma-Jane Parsons each added two goals and an assist for the Lyons, with Qua collecting three draw controls. Senior Jessica Chamberlin chipped in with a pair of goals, two ground balls and a caused turnover.
Senior Katie Geis made three first half saves in goal for Wheaton, while junior Jenna Langan posted a pair of second half saves for the Lyons. Senior Ellie Spotts kept Emerson in the game with a season-best 18 saves, marking her fifth double-digit save outing of the season. She also collected four ground balls for the Lions.
Sophomore Laina Gustafson had a hand in four of Emerson's eight goals with three goals and an assist, collecting four draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover. Classmate Laura Lovell netted two goals with a caused turnover and draw control for the Lions, while senior Holland Rutter and junior Ava DelliCompagni each contributed a goal and assist.
Gustafson led the Lions with three goals and an assist (PHOTO BY Sophia DiNanno) |
Wheaton scored the first seven goals in an opening period in which it outshot Emerson 19-4. Chamberlin and senior Sara Spielman opened the scoring with goals 48-seconds apart less than two minutes in. Qua assisted on Chamberlin's opener and then added two goals of her own during the opening run, with her second of the night with 3:35 to play in the frame coming with a player advantage.
Lovell got Emerson on the board with her first of the game with 1:49 to play in the first quarter to spark a four-goal run to get the Lions back in the game. Spotts made 11 of her 18 stops in the first half to allow the Lions to draw back within three. Gustafson assisted on the Lovell goal and then opened the second quarter scoring just 17 seconds in. DelliCompagni had a role in Emerson's next two goals, scoring with 8:23 to play in the half and then assisting on a woman-up goal from sophomore Adele Eaton three minutes later.
Chamberlin halted the run with 4:39 left in the half and then senior Natalie Bilodeau restored a five-goal cushion for Wheaton 32 seconds later. Gustafson and Lovell sandwiched a woman up goal from O'Neil to close out the first half scoring and pull Emerson back within four (10-6) at the intermission.
Emerson was still within four (12-8) after Gustafson's third of the night 3:25 into the fourth quarter, but markers from O'Neil and first year Lucy Knof in the final 5:15 sealed Wheaton's fourth-straight win.
Up Next:
Emerson (4-9, 0-6 NEWMAC) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Clark University for Senior Night at Rotch Field at 7 p.m. Wheaton (10-3, 5-2 NEWMAC) hosts the Coast Guard Academy on Sunday at noon.
For the latest on Emerson Athletics, follow the Lions via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as well as online at emersonlions.com powered by SIDEARM Sports.
