March 28, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Lacrosse Falls 5-19 to Babson

Northampton, MA: In the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) season opener for the Pioneers, Smith fell 19-5 to Babson. With the loss, Smith fell to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference while the Beavers improved to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the NEWMAC.

Babson began the game on a 6-0 run before senior co-captain Blair Rapalyea (Prides Crossing, MA) scored unassisted with 22:02 left in the half. Junior Carolyn Whiting (South Orange, NJ) added a goal for Smith less than two minutes later but the remainder of the half belonged to the Beavers who outshot Smith 22-8 and took a 14-2 lead into the half.

Babson's offense dominated the second half as well as it out tallied the visitors 5-3.  First years Alexandra Page (Brookline, MA) and Phoebe Hopkins (Philadelphia, PA) each scored for Smith while Rapalyea tallied her second goal of the game. Chelsea Henderson (White Plains, NY) took the loss in goal for Smith as she gave up 11 goals and made 2 saves while Elizabeth Niehoff (Bronxville, NY) made 3 stops and allowed 8 goals.  Babson's Jess Parker (Cataumet, MA) led the Beavers with five goals and junior Anna Collins (Wincheser, MA) added two goals with five assists. Keepers Sarah Macary(Woodbury, CT) and Rebecca Foley (New City, NY) combined for 4 saves for Babson and Macary registered the win.

The Pioneers will host non-conference opponent Skidmore College on Tuesday at 5 p.m.