April 10, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Smith Lacrosse Defeats New England College 16-8

Northampton, MA: Senior Sara Smyth (Brooklyn, NY) tallied seven goals with three assists to help lead the Pioneers to a 16-8 defeat of New England College this afternoon in Northampton. With the victory, Smith improved to 3-5 overall while the Pilgrims fell to 3-8.

Smyth and first year Caitlyn Kennedy (South Hadley, MA) put the first three goals of the game on the board in the opening three minutes of play but Chelsea Bennett (New Glasgow, Nova Scotia) and Jodie Dresser (Keene, NH) answered for New England over the next three minutes to bring the Pilgrims within one.  The teams exchanged two goals each over the next ten minutes to keep New England close at 5-4. The Pioneers outscored the visitors 3-1 in the remainder of the half to take a 8-5 lead into the break.

First year Eve Whitehouse (North Reading, MA) scored 30 seconds into the second half with an assist from Smyth to give the Pioneeers a 9-5 lead but Casey McFarland (Webster, NH) and Brandi Vittum (Woodstock, VT) closed the gap to two (9-7).  The Pioneers offense took over and went on a 7-1 run that gave Smith its third victory of the season.  Pioneer keeper Sara Smith (Brooklyn, NY) registered the win as she made 12 saves and allowed 8 goals.  Alexandra DiRico (Limerick, PA) took the loss for New England giving up 16 goals with 9 saves.

Scoring:  Smith: - Sara Smyth - 7; Caitlin Kennedy -3; Blair Rapalyea -2 ; Emily Riff-1; Carolyn Whiting -1; Eve Whitehouse-1; Michelle Walsh -1.
NEC: - Jodie Dresser-2; Brandi Vittum-2; Casey McFarland-2; Emily Kuchta-1; Chelsea Bennett-1.
Assists: - Smith - Smyth-3; Riff-2; Rapalyea-1.  NEC - Marlena Grutzmacher-1

Keepers: Smith - Sara Smith (60 mins), 8 GA, 12 saves
NEC - Alexandra DiRico (56:30 mins), 16 GA, 9 saves, Amanda Murdock (3:30 mins), 2 saves

Shots - Smith-45, NEC 21