NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College soccer team (2-10, 1-6 NEWMAC) will take the field at home for the final time in 2011 when they play host to Wheaton College (Mass.) (11-2-3, 5-1-1 NEWMAC) on Saturday afternoon.  Before the game, Smith will honor their seven seniors, including Ellie Theurer (Gainesville, Fla./Oak Hall), Ethan Shapiro (Newton, Mass./Newton North), Cara Gubbins (Dennis, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth), Emma Coffin (Carrabassett Valley, Maine/Mt. Abram), Jenn Chang (Seoul, South Korea/Wilbraham & Monson), Lindsey Gregor (Bradenton, Fla./Southeast), and Perri Hom (Westwood, N.J./Dwight-Englewood).


Last Meeting: The Lyons eliminated the Pioneers from postseason contention a year ago with a 3-0 win on October 23, 2010.

Last Smith Win: Smith beat Wheaton 1-0 in the semi-finals of the NEW 8 tournament on November 3, 1996.  That was the second meeting between the two teams this year, as Smith took the first matchup 3-1 on October 5 of that year.

Smith Overview: Smith suffered yet another one goal defeat on Tuesday night, with a 1-0 loss to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.  It was the eighth one goal loss of the season for the Pioneers, and the fifth by that scoreline. 

Wheaton Overview: In and out of the top 25 this season, Wheaton has stumbled just a bit after a span of games that saw them win nine of 10, with the only non-win being a 2-2 tie against Tufts.  The Lyons suffered their first NEWAMC loss on October 15 with a 1-0 loss to Springfield, and followed that up with a scoreless draw vs. Babson.  Wheaton sits in third place in the league, with 16 points.

Smith Player to Watch: The class of 2011 - with the possibility of the playoffs still alive (see below), the seniors will look to keep the team in the race.

Wheaton Player to Watch: Cassey Muse has nine goals, tops on the squad and second in the league.

Did you know?  Despite the loss to Coast Guard on Tuesday night, Smith still has a mathematical chance to make the NEWMAC tournament.  It will take a combination of Smith winning both their remaining games, along with Wellesley, WPI, Mount Holyoke, and Coast Guard not winning any of their remaining games.