NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College field hockey team (4-10, 1-6 NEWMAC) takes to the road against Wheaton College (7-8, 2-4 NEWMAC) in a match that is vital to the playoff hopes of both teams. 

Last Meeting: Wheaton used a pair of second half goals to pull away in a 3-1 win on October 23, 2010.  Rebecca Rosen (Harrington Park, N.J./Northern Valley)'s third goal of the season had drawn Smith level at halftime.

Last Smith Win: The last time Smith beat Wheaton was a 1-0 win on October 16, 1999.

Smith Overview: Smith fell in their last contest to No. 7 Amherst College by an 8-1 score. Phoebe Hopkins (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends Select) scored for Smith.  It was her third goal of the season, and 29th career tally. 

Wheaton Overview: Wheaton is up and down this season, never winning more than two consecutive games, but never losing more than two in a row.  The Lyons carry one of those two game losing skids into today's match, but a win for Wheaton today would put them within touching distance of a NEWMAC tournament berth.

Smith Player to Watch: Savannah Lawson (Oak Bluffs, Mass./Martha's Vineyard) made 15 saves against Amherst, and now needs 56 in the next three games to set a new single season record.

Wheaton Player to Watch: Senior Emily Asack has scored 11 of the team's 40 goals this season.

Playoff Permutations: To make the NEWMAC tournament, Smith must win both their remaining games, (today at Wheaton, Oct. 29 vs. WPI).  This would give Smith a league record of 3-5, and tie breakers against Wheaton and WPI, the two teams directly in front of them (WPI and Wheaton both have 2-4 league records).  Smith also needs Clark (league record of 2-3) to not win more than one of their remaining three league games.  This would give Smith and Clark 3-5 league records, and Smith owns the head-to-head tie breaker thanks to their 4-3 overtime win on October 9.