Box Score Box Score

NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Emily Strese scored the only goal of the game in the 19th minute as the Smith College soccer team fell to visiting Lyndon State College by a 1-0 count on Saturday afternoon.

Lyndon State has won all three of their games this season, while Smith falls to 1-1.  Despite outshooting the Hornets 18-5, Smith could not find a way past LSC goalie Tia Billado, who made 10 saves. 

Strese made the breakthrough on an unassisted tally, shooting from outside the penalty box and looping a soft shot past the outstretched arms of Pioneers' goalie Lindsey Gregor (Bradenton, Fla./Southeast).  The Pioneers started to put the pressure on Lyndon State, late in the first half.  Ellie Theurer (Gainesville, Fla./Oak Hall) forced a save out of Billado, but Smith couldn't do anything with the resulting corner kick.

Smith increased the pressure in the second half.  Theurer dragged a shot wide in the 47th minute, and Chelby Wakefield (East Longmeadow, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson) fired an effort over the bar from a corner kick.  Billado's best save of the game came in the 56th minute, when she leaped to tip over a shot from Cara Gubbins (Dennis, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth) that looked certain to find the back of the net.  Emma Coffin (Carrabassett Valley, Maine/Mt. Abram)'s mazy dribble nearly teed up Kaitlin Johnson, but Billado was equal to the task to preserve the shutout. 

Gregor finished with three saves between the sticks for Smith.  The Pioneers will play away from home for the first time in their next game, with a 7 p.m. contest against New England College on Tuesday, September 13.  Lyndon State will continue their trip through Massachusetts with a visit to Regis College tomorrow.