WESTON, Mass. - In a matchup of two ISL rivals, host Rivers outlasted Middlesex, 13-9, in girls lacrosse action on Wednesday afternoon. Historically known for high intensity and back-and-forth action, this meeting lived up to every expectation.

Rivers struck first, but Middlesex wasted no time responding. Less than two minutes later, Bella Santucci (Leominster, Mass.) found Addie Curry (Carlisle, Mass.) in front of the net for the equalizer. The Red Wings, however, closed the quarter strong, adding two more goals to carry a 3–1 lead into the second.

The Zebras came charging back in the second as a string of three straight goals from Curry and Ryan Pinney (Harvard, Mass.) flipped the momentum and gave Middlesex its first lead of the game. Rivers answered five minutes later to even the score once again, setting up a wild finish to the half.

The final 32 seconds before halftime turned into a frenzy. Rivers scored to regain the lead, but just six seconds later the Zebras capitalized on a successful ride when Marin Gustafson (Wellesley, Mass.) fed Annika McNulty (Houston, Texas) for the quick equalizer. Rivers won the ensuing draw and managed to find the net with ten seconds left, taking a 6–5 advantage into halftime.

Rivers came out of the break on a tear, rattling off four straight goals to open the third quarter. Santucci helped Middlesex regroup, netting a goal with 4:51 remaining in the quarter to spark a response. The Zebras followed with three more goals before the end of the period, with Cate Glass (Brookline, Mass.), Gustafson, Pinney, and McNulty either scoring or setting up the offensive surge to close the gap. Despite the rally, Middlesex couldn't contain Rivers in the fourth quarter and the Red Wings pulled away to secure the 13–9 win.

Defensively, Sarah Voute (Harvard, Mass.), Glass, and Thea Salem (Cambridge, Mass.) combined for six caused turnovers, while Glass and Salem battled for seven contested ground balls. Glass and Gustafson were relentless on the draw, and Erin Larson (North Andover, Mass.) stood tall in goal with six saves between the pipes.