Athletics News and Press Releases

March 19, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joy Zazzera
(413) 585-3076

Smith Lacrosse Opens Season With Sixth Place
Seven Sisters Finish

Swarthmore Defeats Wellesley11-8 to Claim the 2006 Title

Swarthmore, PA: Smith Lacrosse opened their season this weekend on the road competing in the annual Seven Sister’s Lacrosse Championship at Swarthmore College. Despite finishing the tournament 1-2 overall, the talent that abounds this group of veterans and first years overshadowed the Pioneer’s sixth place finish.

During Saturday’s opening round match-up against #2 ranked Haverford, Smith sophomore attack Sara Smyth (Brooklyn, NY) scored eight goals in her Pioneer debut but it was not enough as the team fell 18-13 to the Fords. Haverford senior Meg Twomey led a balanced Fords attack with four goals. Haverford scored the first four goals and led 10-2 late in the first half and 18-6 with just over 10 minutes to play before the Pioneers mounted a comeback and made the final score respectable.

Chelsea Meerback made seven saves for the Fords; Sophomore netminder Sara Smith (Brooklyn, NY) made six for the Pioneers.

Sara Smyth was an explosive offensive threat yet again in Smith’s second round Saturday afternoon game but was upstaged by a teammate, senior Annalee Harris (Saxtons River, VT) as the Pioneers rebounded from a morning defeat to top Elms 17-5.

All six of Harris's shots found the net, and she added a free position goal to finish with seven tallies on the game. The senior also controlled a team-leading four draws. Smyth added six goals, giving her a tournament-leading 13 on the day.

Elms got two goals from Holly Stevens and again was led by netminder Shelia Murphy, who had 19 saves. The senior finished Saturday with a tournament-high 36 stops. With their win over Elms, Smith would vie for a fifth place finish Sunday morning when they played Vassar College.

The Vassar defense was able to hold Smyth scoreless on Sunday as the Brewers went on to take fifth place finish over the Pioneers. Ali Fantl picked up her third hat trick in as many games in the first fifteen minutes of play as Vassar raced to a 10-0 lead before holding on for a 14-4 triumph to take fifth place in the tournament.

Four other Brewers also scored as Vassar took a 7-0 halftime lead. Tina Castellan, Christine Eaccarino, Kristin Hogan, and Jessie Albert all finished with two goals each. Ariel Nelson made five first-half saves before exiting in favor of Taylor Herman, who made six stops.

The Pioneers got goals from Susie Parke-Sutherland (Columbia, MO), Betsy Nickle Wilmington, DE), and Sarah Barksdale (Baltimore, MD) during a three-goal run that cut the margin to seven at 10-3. First year Blair Rapalyea (Prides Crossing, MA) added Smith’s fourth goal with just under two minutes to play. Sara Smith kept the score close with 15 saves for the Pioneers.

Smyth was recognized with All Tournament Team honors for her stellar play on the attack as Smith will look for another tally in the win column when the play non-conference opponent the College of Wooster in West Palm Beach Florida on March 22 before opening the season at home on Sunday, March 26 against NEWMAC opponent Wheaton College at 1 pm.

Seven Sister's Results
Round 1:   Smith College 13        Haverford College    18
Round 2:             Smith College 17        Elms College             5
5th/6th Place:     Smith College    4        Vassar College         14

All-Tournament Team
Megan Sanborn -- Midfielder -- Swarthmore (MVP)
Maxine Brownstein -- Attack -- Wellesley
Ali Fantl -- Attack -- Vassar
Caitlin Taylor -- Attack -- Mount Holyoke
Sara Smyth -- Attack -- Smith
Katie Moseley -- Attack -- Wellesley
Alex Shookhoff -- Midfielder -- Haverford
Zoe Fuller-Young -- Midfielder -- Bryn Mawr
Ariel Nelson -- Goalkeeper -- Vassar
Amber Evans -- Midfidler -- Wellesley
Lindsay Roth -- Midfielder -- Swarthmore
Marika Austin -- Midfielder -- Mount Holyoke

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