NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The league season comes to a close for the Smith College lacrosse team (7-6, 2-3 NEWMAC) when the Pioneers host Springfield College (7-7, 3-1 NEWMAC) on Tuesday night at 5:00 p.m.  A Smith win, combined with some other favorable results could see the Pioneers host a playoff game in the upcoming NEWMAC tournament.

Last Meeting:  Springfield posted an 18-2 win over Smith in the second-to-last game of the season on April 19, 2011.  Liz Mauro (Manalapan, N.J./Rutgers Prep) and Sofia Nakhnikian-Weintraub (Eugene, Ore./South Eugene) netted the goals for Smith.

Last Smith Win: Smith netted a 13-11 win over the Pride on April 1, 1999.  Springfield got a little revenge with a 12-10 win over Smith in the semifinals of the NEWMAC tournament on April 22.

Smith Overview: Despite a 21-8 loss to Wellesley on Saturday, the Pioneers clinched their first NEWMAC playoff tournament berth since 2009 when MIT and Mount Holyoke also lost on Saturday.  Mckenzie Hessel (Portland, Ore./Wilson) continued her hot streak, scoring four goals against the Blue for her fifth straight game with at least four goals.

Springfield Overview: The Pride have alternated wins and losses in their last six games, with wins over Connecticut College, Wellesley, and MIT, and losses to nationally ranked Trinity (No. 3), Williams, and Babson College.  The Pride have played a tough schedule this year, also facing No. 11 Amherst and Ithaca (RV).

Smith Player to Watch: Hessel - as noted above, she's scored four goals or more in five straight games.  She's also the only member of the team to score in every game this season. 

Springfield Player to Watch: Jackie Moscardelli has found the net 36 times, is 6-for-9 on free position shots, and has grabbed 23 ground balls.

Playoff Permutations: Smith currently sits in the fifth and final playoff spot, meaning the Pioneers would travel in the quarterfinal round of the NEWMAC tournament.  However, while Smith concludes league play tonight, five other teams have two league games left.  For the Pioneers to host that opening round game, Smith would need to win and Wheaton to lose both of their games (home to Wellesley and at MIT).