Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College field hockey team kicked off the 2013 season in fine style with a 5-1 win over Nichols College on Tuesday afternoon. The Pioneers won their season opener for the first time since the 2008 season, and snapped a four game losing streak to Nichols.
Smith is now 1-0 on the year, while Nichols drops to 0-2.
The Pioneers dominated, outshooting the Bison 24-4.
Allie Stein (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) and
Alexa DeJesus (Somerset, Mass./Somerset) forced saves from Nichols' starting goalie Molly Melanson, and Stein made the breakthrough in the 15th minute with her 50th career goal. The senior took one touch from
Petru Bester (Deep River, Conn./Valley Regional)'s corner and slammed a shot past Melanson for a 1-0 lead.
Stein would have a hand in the next two Smith goals, as she teed up
Marissa Vara (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) for a 2-0 lead at the 24:04 mark, then added her second and Smith's third three minutes before halftime, taking a pass from
Emma Camilleri (Florence, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson) and scoring from close range.
Smith nearly had a fourth before the half, but substitute goalie Katherine Cotton wrapped up
Casey Rau (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts)'s effort in the final seconds of the half.
The Bison brokeup the shutout 1:19 into the second half, when Jacqueline O'Connor turned in Andrea Wilson's pass, but Smith restored their three goal lead in less than 30 seconds.
Jenny Estes (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth)' shot from distance beat the third Nichols goalie of the day, Carmen Garcia, making it a 4-1 Smith lead.
The Pioneers continued to pile on the pressure, earning five straight corners, and got a fifth goal when
Kat Estes (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) broke her collegiate duck with an unassisted tally.
Abbey Petronzio (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) played all 70 minutes in goal, making three saves for Smith. In addition to Melanson, Cotton, and Garcia, Ariana Beauregard played in net for Nichols. Melanson made two saves, and Cotton made four.
Smith will look to improve to 2-0 when they play Bay Path in the first round of the Betty Richey Tournament at Vassar College on Friday at 7 p.m. Nichols will host Mount Holyoke College on September 5, at 7 p.m.
