Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Jordan Houston (Logan, Utah/Logan)'s header with 33 seconds remaining proved to be the difference as the Smith College soccer team defeated the United States Coast Guard Academy, 2-1, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's soccer action on Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers snapped a three game losing skid and improve to 4-5-1, and 2-1 in the NEWMAC, while Coast Guard drops to 4-7, with a 1-2 NEWMAC record.

The game, which was scoreless until the final four minutes, sprang into life as both teams went in search of the winning goal.  Smith broke the deadlock with 4:12 remaining when Houston dribbled down the right side, and teed up classmate Bella McNamara for her first collegiate goal, a rocket past Coast Guard goalie Holly Moore.  

Just 1:15 later, the Bears had tied the score and the game looked to be heading for overtime.  A loose ball at the edge of the box fell to the feet of Julie Mundy, who powered a half-volley past Smith 'keeper Alanna Lynch (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull).  But Smith, who had already played in overtime three times this year, and needed double-overtime to beat Coast Guard a year ago, would not let it get to sudden death.    The Pioneers won a corner kick in the final minute, and Innis Hitt (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) set up Houston for a bullet header for her sixth goal of the season.

"That might have been my first career headed goal," said Houston, whose previous five goals this year were all with her feet.  "We knew we couldn't let it get to overtime again, and as I saw the ball coming in, I knew I had to head it home."

The first half of the game was left mostly to the goalies.  Smith's best chances came with Olivia Mallari (Waterford, Conn./Waterford) grazed the post in the 17th minute, and Aidan Hitt (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) fizzed a free kick just shy of the far post from 35 yards out.

Both teams will return to NEWMAC play on Tuesday.  Smith hosts Springfield College at 4 p.m., while Coast Guard will host WPI at 7 p.m.

Today's game was a fundraiser for the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC). MBCC was founded in 1991 by women concerned with the lack of attention to breast cancer.  Thanks to the overwhelming response to our call to action, Massachusetts became the first state to declare breast cancer an epidemic, MBCC founded Silent Spring Institute to investigate the link between breast cancer and the environment, and now we are the state's leading breast cancer organization.  To donate, please click here.

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