NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College field hockey team begins New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play with a trip to Mount Holyoke College.  Click to read further about the Pioneers and Lyons.

Last Meeting: September 17, 2010.  Mount Holyoke 4, Smith 0.  The Lyons spoiled the first game on the new Smith Turf Field with a hat trick from Shara Robertson.  Sora Harris-Vincent (Plainfield, Vt./U-32) made eight saves in goal for Smith.

Last Smith Win: October 6, 2003.  Smith 2, Mount Holyoke 1 (2OT, PSO).  The second of two meetings between the teams in 2003, Smith got a measure of revenge for a 2-1 defeat at the Seven Sisters Championship earlier that season. 

Mount Holyoke Overview: The Lyons could nearly be undefeated this season.  After opening up the year with victories over Regis College and Castleton State College, the Lyons fell 2-1 in double-overtime to Wesleyan University on September 14.  Mount Holyoke was four minutes away from victory when the Cardinals scored to force overtime, then won the contest in the 87th minute.

Smith Overview:  The Pioneers begin NEWMAC play coming off a tough 1-0 loss to Elms College on Tuesday afternoon.  Despite holding a 22-9 advantage in shots, Smith could not breach the goal of Alexandra Bonavita, and dropped to 1-3 on the season. 

Mount Holyoke Player to Watch: Jess Fajardo.  A senior forward, Fajardo leads the team with four goals this season, including a hat-trick against Regis College.

Smith Player to Watch: Sophie DeMuynck.  A junior defender, Demuynck is one of the most consistent players on the team, and is known to come up with an assist or two.

Did you know? The nickname Lyons comes from Mount Holyoke founder Mary Lyon, who founded what was then called Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in 1837.  Lyon also founded another NEWMAC school - Wheaton College, who also are called the Lyons.