Box Score
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Smith College lacrosse team was upended by visiting Nichols College, 13-9, in a non-conference tilt in the squad's home opener on Monday afternoon.
Junior
Jessica Lillquist (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) scored a game-best five tallies for the Pioneers. Sophomore
Olivia Timmins (Medford, Mass./Medford) chipped in with two as senior
Kate Detrick (Petaluma, Calif./Sonoma Academy) and sophomore
Rachel Silveria (Dunstable, Mass./Groton-Dunstable) each found the back of the net once. Timmins led the team with three ground balls and junior
Jenny Estes (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) hauled in a game-best four draw controls. Senior
Merric Kallfelz (North Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) stopped 17 of the 30 shots he faced, including several excellent saves in the second half.
First-year Brooke Marion scored four second half goals while junior Alyssa Bufis also scored a quartet for the Bison. Juniors Erica Antonison and Grace Murphy each scored a pair of goals while senior Julie Monroe added one. Bufis collected a game-best five ground balls and rookie Katherine Cotton stopped eight shots.
The Pioneers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening 2:22 on goals by Lillquist and Silveria. Nichols cut the lead in half 1:11 later with a tally by Bufis. Smith ended a scoring drought by both sides and took a 4-1 lead following markers by Timmins and Detrick at 10:07 and 12:46, respectively. Antonison halted the run as she corralled a turnover and quickly deposited the ball to make it a 4-2 game midway through the first half. Lillquist responded 1:16 later before the guests went on a 6-0 run, including a trio by Bufis, to close out the frame.
Timmins and Lillquist closed the gap to one with 33:04 left to play. After nearly 4:36 of scoreless action, Nichols potted three goals in just under three minutes, including the first two by Marion to take the 11-7 lead with 14:26 remaining. Lillquist broke up the outburst with a goal at 17:23 before Marion potted her third and fourth goals of the game. Lillquist then capped the scoring with 2:50 showing on the scoreboard.
Smith scored four of the seven free position goals while Nichols had the advantage in shots (37-20) and ground balls (15-12). Each team corralled 12 draw controls.
Both teams are slated to resume action on Thursday. Smith (0-3) hosts Simmons at 4:00 p.m. while Nichols (2-0) entertains Framingham State at 7:00 p.m.
