Box Score WESTFIELD, Mass.--
Rebecca Meagher (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) and
Kristen Estes (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) each had a goal to lead Smith College to a 2-1 victory over Westfield State University in non-conference field hockey play on Tuesday night. Smith is now 10-3, reaching double-digit wins for the first time since 1998. Westfield State falls to 5-7.
It was the Owls who made the breakthrough first, when Danielle Grenon knocked in a pass from Courtney Araujo and Sarah Pliszka for a 1-0 lead just 5:52 into the game.
Smith responded with pressure, as
Jenny Estes (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth)' shot was blocked in the 14th minute, but two minutes later, the Pioneers were level. Meagher scored her eighth goal of the season and second in three games to level the score, which would stay that way at halftime.
The Pioneers came out of the gates firing in the second half, with
Allie Stein (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) and Meagher both trying to give Smith the lead. Stein and
Petru Bester (Deep River, Conn./Valley Regional) forced saves from WSU goalie Jess Roder in the 53rd minute, and following a Smith penalty corner, the Pioneers took the lead for good. Stein set up
Kristen Estes (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) for her fifth goal of the year.
Smith outshot Westfield State 17-4, and took 11 penalty corners to just two for the Owls.
Maddi Wyda (Baltimore, Md./The Park School) made three saves to earn her fourth win of the season. Jess Rodier made seven stops for Westfield State.
The Pioneers will resume NEWMAC play when they host MIT at noon on Saturday, October 19.
Westfield State hosts Worcester State in a Little East Conference tilt at October 18 at 7 p.m.
