MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The No. 2 ranked Wesleyan women's lacrosse team netted seven unanswered goals in a 16-minute span to build a 7-1 lead and then finished the game with eight unanswered goals to earn a 16-6 win over No. 16 York on Sunday from Smith Field in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
Wesleyan (16-3) advances to the NCAA Tournament Third Round (Sweet 16) for the fifth straight appearance in the national postseason tournament dating back to 2018. Awaiting the Cardinals in the Third Round is a familiar foe in Colby. Of significant note, the Cardinals earned hosting rights for the second weekend of NCAA Tournament play for the first time in program history.
 
The Spartans scored on the first possession of the contest but it was all Wesleyan for the next 15+ minutes as the Cardinals scored seven unanswered goals on York's 2023 IWLCA Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-American in Bella Garabo. Olivia Lai '23, G'24 was the key in the scoring run, putting away four unanswered goals herself, two of which on a free position attempt. Dylan Green '26 put away one more goal with 34 seconds left in the frame as Wesleyan led 5-1 after one.
 
Green scored again in the opening two minutes of the second quarter and after a string of five straight Spartan possessions ended in a turnover, Laura Baine '24 netted her first goal on the day to make it 7-1 Wesleyan with 9:06 left in the half.
 
York called timeout following Baine's goal and scored on back-to-back possessions to put an end to the Wesleyan scoring run. The Spartans nearly made it three straight goals but Izzy Weintraub '26 made a denial on a Madison Kurland shot attempt and after a green card was issued to Kurland, Lai took advantage and scored on the player-up free position attempt.
 
The Spartans answered back with a goal to make it 8-4 and had several opportunities to draw closer but Weintraub again came up huge with two saves in the final minute and Kurland had a free position shot attempt go wide of the cage all before halftime.
 
Coming out of the break, Weintraub continued her strong play with a denial of Gianna Huet on a free position shot, but the Spartans later scored on that possession and again six minutes later as it was 8-6 Cardinals with 6:13 left in the frame.
 
In need of a big play, Weintraub first caused a turnover and then turned aside a shot attempt from Sydney Mentzer, keeping her team in the lead. After the Cardinal offense had gone ice cold with just one goal in 22+ minutes, three unanswered goals over the final 2:14 of the frame turned a two-goal game into an 11-6 Cardinal lead.
 
Baine started the run with an unassisted tally before Becca Dibble '26 fed Green for another goal just 58 seconds later. Kiara Tangney '25 then forced a York turnover and after sprinting up field, it was Sam DeLeo '25 who finished in transition to give Wesleyan the five-goal advantage heading into the fourth.
 
The Spartans tried to get back in the game as Dibble was whistled for a green card in the opening seconds, but Weintraub again came up big, saving a Gianna Huet attempt with York on a player-up opportunity. Baine scored one minute later, followed by a Molly Greer '24 free position strike and suddenly it was 13-6 Cardinals with 10:41 remaining.
 
York called timeout but the damage had already been done. Baine netted her fourth of the game and assisted on goals from Lindsey Diomede '26 and Tangney before time expired as the margin grew to 16-6 before the final horn sounded.
 
Weintraub put on a masterful display in cage, making 10 saves for her second career game with double-digit saves. The sophomore also caused two turnovers and had two ground balls as she outplayed the reigning National Goalkeeper of the Year on the day.
 
Baine matched Abby Manning '20 for the most points by a Cardinal in an NCAA Tournament game as the senior attack finished with seven (four goals, three assists). Baine has 80 points on the season and is just two away from 200 for her career and five away from the single-season team record.
 
Lai netted five first half goals as she matched the team's NCAA Tournament single-game goal scoring record.
 
Green had a big day, matching her career-high with four points (three goals, one assist) while setting a career-high with six draw controls.
 
DeLeo also had four points including a career-high three assists for the junior attack.
 
Greer led the midfield unit with three caused turnovers and three ground balls. Haley McLaughlin '24 posted three caused turnovers and two ground balls while Lilly Stoller '26 went for three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
 
Next up for Wesleyan is a matchup against the Mules who've been a constant thorn in the side of the Cardinals in recent years. Colby has won four straight meetings dating back to 2021 including a 10-8 win in Middletown in the season opener back on March 2.