Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College soccer team fell to Wheaton College, 1-0 in the final game of the year on Saturday afternoon. Smith dips to 5-10-2, with a 3-6-1 NEWMAC mark, while Wheaton claims a share of the regular season title while improving to 13-5-2, 8-1-1 in NEWMAC competition.
Smith was eliminated from the NEWMAC playoff race with the loss. The Pioneers needed to win to secure a NEWMAC playoff berth, or barring that, would need a Mount Holyoke victory over WPI to get in. The Engineers posted a 3-0 win over Mount Holyoke on Saturday.
Gabrielle Verde nicked in her ninth goal of the year in the seventh minute to give Wheaton the only goal they would need as they defeated Smith for the 24th straight time.
The Pioneers' best chance of the first half fell to
Jordan Houston (Logan, Utah/Logan), who was played in by
Olivia Mallari (Waterford, Conn./Waterford), but her shot was struck straight at Wheaton goalie Taylor Wilson. Wilson also made a save from
Innis Hitt (Arlington, Va./Yorktown)'s long range effort, while at the other end, Alex Leonardi planted a header wide.
Wheaton maintained their 1-0 lead at halftime, but immediately tried to add to it after the restart. Lynch made a stop on Tess Weyburne's low attempt, and kept out a header by Abby Tobin in the 51st minute.
Lynch made the save of the game when she leaped to push Laila Rhagazzi's shot over the crossbar in the 71st minute, keeping the game at 1-0. Smith searched for an equalizer, and nearly found it with 30 seconds to play.
GiGi Ross (Colt's Neck, N.J./Colt's Neck)' shot in the dying moments of the game had Wilson at full stretch to keep it out.
Before the game, Smith honored seniors
Christine Chang (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto),
Katie Johnson (Waterbury, Vt./Harwood), and
Aidan Hitt (Arlington, Va./Yorktown). Smith ends the season with a mark of 5-10-2, but returns 17 players from this year's team.
Wheaton will be the No. 2 seed in the upcoming NEWMAC tournament, and host Coast Guard on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
