NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Siobhan Rigby scored a pair of goals as No. 18 MIT edged Smith College, 3-1 in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) field hockey action on Saturday. The Pioneers honored their six graduating seniors before the contest.
Smith is now 10-4, with a 2-4 NEWMAC record, while MIT improves to 12-2, with a 5-0 NEWMAC mark. The game was close throughout, with MIT holding a slim advantage in shots (13-11), while Smith took 12 corners to MIT's eight.
The Engineers went on the early attack, forcing a fine double-save from
Abbey Petronzio (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) off Rigby and Caitlin Mackey within the first 10 minutes of the game. Attempts by Elizabeth Dethy and Olivia Massey went wide of the Mark, while at the other end,
Alexa DeJesus (Somerset, Mass./Somerset) fired wide, and
Marissa Vara (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) drew a save from Evie Kyritsis.
The Pioneers nearly grabbed the first goal of the game in the 26th minute. Following a penalty corner,
Casey Rau (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) had Kyritsis beaten, only to see her shot cleared off the line by Jane Coffrin. 23 seconds later, MIT was in front, going all the way down the field and getting a goal from Mackey. Three minutes later, MIT had a second when Rigby tipped a shot over Petronzio's shoulder to double the advantage.
Smith immediately fired back, as the senior tandem of
Allie Stein (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) and
Alexa DeJesus (Somerset, Mass./Somerset) combined to halve the deficit before halftime. DeJesus' pass into the circle was controlled by Stein, and Smith's all-time leading scorer slotted in her 25th goal of the year three minutes before the break.
The second half saw more Smith pressure, as the Pioneers earned seven penalty corners in the first 10 minutes of the half. Stein shot wide, and at the opposite end, new Smith goalie
Maddi Wyda (Baltimore, Md./The Park School) denied Dethy in the 50th minute. Rigby got her second and MIT's third in the 54th, after a corner. Maddy Wharton assisted on the play.
Following a Smith timeout, the Pioneers continued to search for a goal, but Kyritsis denied Stein on three separate occasions, and
Emma Camilleri (Florence, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson) shot wide in the final moments of the game.
Petronzio finished with three saves and Wyda two for Smith, while Kyritsis made four stops for MIT.
Smith will be in action one last time at home, hosting Amherst College on October 24 at 4 p.m.
MIT travels to Wellesley on October 22.
