BRISTOL, R.I. — The Roger Williams University women's lacrosse team defeated MIT on Saturday, defeating the Engineers 12-11 in non-conference action on Bayside Field.
 
The Hawks won 18 draw controls to MIT's 9.  Roger Williams also held a 24-19 edge in ground balls.  MIT outshot the Hawks 26-24 throughout the contest.
 
For Roger Williams, Julia Kelley (Foxborough, Mass.) tallied 7 points with a pair of goals and five assists.  Lily Cunningham (Melrose, Mass.) added four points with four goals with four ground balls, and five draw controls. Ryleigh Cavanaugh (Manchester, N.H.) had seven draw controls to lead the team, while Kate Shultz (Portsmouth, N.H.) had five caused turnovers and three ground balls.
 
Mandy Beck (Old Saybrook, Conn.) found Brooke McErlain (Hampton, N.H.) open on for the Hawks opening goal, 3:53 into the contest.  Lily Cunningham then scored off a pass from Kelley that gave Roger Williams a 2-0 lead.  MIT answered with a pair of their own to level the score before, Lily Cunningham scored while shorthanded. The Engineers added a pair in the final 2:55 of play, leading 4-3 at the end of the first.
 
The Hawks then rattled off four straight goals, in a span of 4:44, a goal by Ellie Rabenold was followed by a Karli Chapin (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) goal to give Roger Williams an 8-5 lead heading into the half.
 
MIT outscored the Hawks 3-1 in the third quarter, before the two teams played even in the fourth quarter, as the Hawks held on to a 12-11 lead.
 
Roger Williams (3-1, 0-0 CCC) will travel to take on Hamilton on Monday, Mar. 13 at 12:00 pm.  They will then take on Tufts on Thursday, Mar. 16 at 4 pm.