MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – A strong second half rally by the 10th-ranked Wesleyan women's lacrosse team led to its first win of the 2021 season as the Cardinals held on to defeat Hamilton on Smith Field Saturday afternoon, 13-12.

The Cardinals (1-1, 1-0) were led by Johanna Copeland who tallied five goals as her strong start to the season continued. She now has nine goals through two games. The Continentals (0-1, 0-1) were led by Honor Gabriel's four points (3 goals, 1 assist), while Lauren Hamilton and Olivia Seymour each recorded hat tricks.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• It took just over one minute of play for the visitors to get on the board as Seymour tallied Hamilton's first goal of the season.
• However, the Cardinals answered at the 25:34 mark when Kat Cucullo got around her defender and fired a low shot to the left corner of the net.
• Following back-to-back goals by Lauren Hamilton to give the Continentals a 3-1 advantage, Wesleyan rallied with a 4-1 run capped off by a Kendall Mittleman goal at the 7:57 mark off an assist from Laura Baine.
• Just over two minutes later, Gabriel evened the score for Hamilton and the visitors went on a 4-0 run to go ahead by three with 3:05 to play in the half.
• With just under a minute remaining, and a player-down, Gil Horst scored off a free position shot for the Cardinals as they would go into the break, down 8-6.
• After roughly five minutes of scoreless action to start the second half, Copeland cut the deficit to one.
• After another goal from Gabriel at the 20:38 mark, Wesleyan rallied with a 4-0 run in two-and-a-half minutes to take an 11-9 lead. Copeland and Mittleman each tallied two goals during the stretch.
• With 15:35 to play, a free position goal from Seymour snapped the home team's rally.
• After more than 10 minutes of scoreless action, a give-and-go from Cucullo to Copeland resulted in another score for the senior.
• Hamilton answered when Gabriel found a streaking Eva Abel in front of the net for a quick one-timer to get within one with three minutes to play.
• With 1:05 on the clock, Cucullo gave the home team some insurance as she split two defenders in front of the net before firing a lot shot into the goal.
• Seymour cut the deficit to one with 38 seconds remaining in the game but Wesleyan won the draw and was able to run the clock out to secure the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Cucullo finished with five points on a game-high three assists. Gil Horst and Indigo Pellegrini de Paur each caused two turnovers and Rylee White led the Cardinals with eight draw controls
• Abby Wolk started in net for Wesleyan and made six saves while Corin Grady started the second half and recorded the win while stopping five shots.
• Meghan Lane led Hamilton's defense with three caused turnovers and five draw controls. Megan O'Hara started in net and made three saves while Maeve Luparello played the final 30 minutes and recorded six.
• Wesleyan held a 38-30 edge in shots and 16-11 advantage in draw controls.

UP NEXT:

• The Cardinals are scheduled to return to action tomorrow, April 11 as they will head to Clinton, N.Y. to face Hamilton in a rematch. The game is set for 3 p.m.