NORTON, Mass. - The Wellesley College Blue battled back from a one goal deficit to defeat the Wheaton College women's lacrosse team, 15-9, in the second game of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at Diane C. Nordin '80 Field. 

Wellesley moved to 9-7 on the season and will now take on No. 2 Babson on Saturday, May 6 at Springfield for the NEWMAC Semifinals. Wheaton concludes the season 9-9 overall and 6-2 in NEWMAC action. 

Dacia Persky led the Blue with five goals and an assist, while Nikki Sharkin ended the contest with four goals and an assist in the win. Jenna Mulrenan and Hannah Maisano led Wellesley with four ground balls each, whil eCourtney Peterson and Maisano each forced two turnovers. 

Wheaton was paced by a double hat trick from Maddy Lahm, who scored three goals in each half for the Lyons. Angela Mallis led all players with six ground balls, while Megan Hemmerlein picked up five. First-year Lilly Callahan led the Lyons in caused turnovers with two. 

Wendy Nettleton picked up the complete game win for the Blue, coming up with seven saves, while Molly Witten and Galicia Rothe split time for the Lyons. The Wheaton duo made seven saves combined. 

Lahm struck first putting Wheaton ahead 1-0 seven minutes into the contest with an assist from Giovanna Bishop. After a Wheaton foul sent a player to the bench, Mary Lemay struck with the equalizer just a minute later with a dish from Persky. Persky then went to work, netting back-to-back goals. Lahm pulled the Lyons within a goal at the 11:41 mark on a good free-position shot, but had it countered a minute later with a good free position shot from Sharkin. 

Lahm once again cut the Wheaton deficit to one, 4-3, this time with 9:53 to go in the opening half. Sharkin pushed the Wellesley lead back to three with consecutive goals just seconds apart. 

Mallis, with help from Hannah Gasperoni, added a goal with 3:40 remaining until intermisison, but the excitement was short lived as the Blue ended the half with three unanswered goals. 

Lemay pushed the Wellesley score to double-digits at the start of the second period with a goal assisted by Lena Engbretson. Callahan netted her first goal of the match four minutes later, making it a 10-5 contest. Engbretson followed with her second goal of the half with 17:45 on the clock with a feed from Sharkin. 

Wheaton countered with back-to-back goals from Lahm and Kennelly Allerton, pulling the Lyons within four. Amy Livermore assisted on Lahm's fourth goal of the day, while Bishop fed Allerton. 

The Blue once again capitalized on a player-up situation with Lemay finiding Sharkin for her fourth goal of the day. Lahm put away her final two goals of the game at the 7:53 and 7:24 marks. Putting the Lyons within striking distance. However, like they did in the first half, the Blue closed out the period with three straight goals to take the game.