SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Senior Emi Bisson had three goals and eight assists and senior Elle Mader tied a career-high with four goals as the Mount Holyoke College lacrosse team defeated Emerson College 12-11 Wednesday night in the season finale for both teams.
The game went back and forth with six ties and three lead changes, which was not unexpected after the teams' previous two meetings: a 19-18 Mount Holyoke win in 2025 and a 19-18 overtime win for Emerson in 2024.
Mount Holyoke (8-7, 3-7 NEWMAC) finishes with its first winning record since 2013 and its most NEWMAC wins since 2015, as the Lyons conclude their first season with head coach Elizabeth Morrison. Emerson finishes 4-13 overall and 0-10 in league play.
Bisson (Chester, Conn.) broke Mount Holyoke's team record for assists in a season with her third of the game and her 48th of the season, moving past the former record of 47 that was set by Caitlin Taylor in 2006 and tied by Catherine Ryan in 2013. She ended the game with 53 assists on the year in addition to a career-high-tying 48 goals, for a career-high 101 points on the season, the third-highest total in team history. Bisson finishes her illustrious career at Mount Holyoke with 172 goals, 118 assists and 290 points in 62 games. She ranks fifth all-time at MHC in goals, third all-time in assists and second in points behind Taylor's 304, which was accomplished in 65 career games.
Mount Holyoke came back from 3-2 down after one quarter, tied with Emerson 4-4 at the half, and then assumed a 7-4 lead with a 3-0 run to start the third quarter. Bisson assisted sophomore defender Allison Del Sarto (Issaquah, Wash.) to go up 5-4, then scored her first goal of the game unassisted, then fed junior Mackenzie Hillman (Newington, Conn.) for the game's first three-goal lead.
Emerson answered with four straight goals to retake the lead at 8-7 before the end of the third quarter. Ava DelliCompagni scored three goals in the run, including two on free-position shots.
The Lyons started the fourth quarter with a crucial 3-0 run to go up 10-8. Mader scored on an assist by sophomore Juliana Spaulding (Wakefield, Mass.) to tie the game 8-8, and Bisson netted her second goal to put MHC in the lead for good at 9-8. The Lyons then added a huge insurance goal, as Bisson connected with Spaulding after a key ground ball by first-year Rory Bernardo (Oaklyn, N.J.) collected off a saved shot by Bisson.
Emerson's Laina Gustafson closed the gap with her 50th goal of the year with 9:17 to go, but the Lyons controlled the enuing draw and Bisson fed Mader (Cincinnati, Ohio) for Mader's 22nd goal and fourth of the game. Bisson then scored unassisted to open up a 12-9 MHC lead with 7:39 left in the game.
Emerson made Mount Holyoke sweat the final seven minutes, drawing two goals closer with another score by Gustafson and a final goal by DelliCompagni, DelliCompagni's fifth goal of the game and 49th of the season, scored with 1:19 left in regulation.
Emerson called timeout with 1:10 remaining in the game. Laura Lovell shot high and Mount Holyoke gained control, but Emerson regained control with a caused turnover by DelliCompagni. Gustafson was dealt a yellow card while shooting with 17 seconds remaining, returning the ball to Mount Holyoke, and the Lyons were able to run out the rest of the game clock to seal the win.
DelliCompagni played a huge game for the visiting Lions, collecting five goals, one assist, eight draw controls and one caused turnover. Gustafson finished with four goals and Miranda Tanguay had four ground balls for the visitors. Ellie Spotts made 14 saves as Emerson stayed in the game in spite of a 34-26 disadvantage in shots and a 24-11 disadvantage in turnovers.
Spaulding also played a massive game for MHC, collecting one goal, one assist, seven draw controls, six caused turnovers, and three ground balls. Bernardo had six ground balls, three draw controls and two caused turnovers, while first-year Molly McSharry (West Orange, N.J.) added two goals for the Lyons. Sophomore Valeria Bolanos (Newington, Conn.) made six saves.
