Box Score SOUTH HADLEY, Mass.--The Smith College lacrosse team received seven goals from Mckenzie Hessel (Portland, Ore./Wilson) in a vital 13-9 win over longtime rival Mount Holyoke College on Tuesday night.  The Pioneers improve to 7-5, and 2-2 in NEWMAC play, while Mount Holyoke falls to 5-6, and 1-3 in NEWMAC play.

The teams went back-and-forth in the early stages, with neither side leading by more than a goal. After back-to-back tallies by Randolph and Horimoto put Mount Holyoke in front 5-4 at the 3:11 mark of the first half, Hessel erupted for three unanswered goals to give the Pioneers a 7-5 advantage just over three minutes into the second stanza.

Refusing to go away, the Lyons knotted things up at 7-7 behind consecutive goals by Randolph in the middle stages of the second period.

From there, it was all Smith. The Pioneers scored four straight times and never looked back. Hessel's sixth tally of the day closed out the rally and gave her team an 11-7 cushion with 7:32 remaining in regulation.

Smith finished with advantages in shots (34-24) and draw controls (18-6). Junior goalkeeper Alina Pechacek (Andover, Mass./Phillips Academy) went the distance between the pipes for the guests, stopping seven shots.

At the other end, junior Liz Malenfant made 12 saves for the Lyons.

In addition to Hessel, the Pioneers also received an outstanding effort from sophomore midfielder Becky Bracken (Barrington, R.I./Barrington), who racked up four goals, one assist and five draw controls. Senior midfielder Meaghan Fileti (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Palos Verdes) and first year attacker Jessica Lilliquist added one goal each.

Both squads will resume their NEWMAC schedules on Saturday at noon. Mount Holyoke will look to keep its postseason hopes alive at home against Babson College. Meanwhile, Smith will visit Wellesley College in search of its second consecutive league win. The Pioneers currently occupy the fifth slot in the NEWMAC standings.

(Story courtesy Mount Holyoke Sports Information)