Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Following its win over New England College on Wednesday, the Smith College lacrosse team came into Saturday's contest searching to become the first team in the program's history to open a season with three-straight wins. Unfortunately, the Pioneers (2-1) struggled early in the game and couldn't overcome a potent Western New England University offense in an 18-4 loss.
 
The Golden Bears (1-1) rattled off 12 consecutive first-half goals to take a 12-0 lead into the break.
 
The Pioneers got on the scoreboard moments into the second half, as senior Jenny Estes (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) tallied her fourth goal of the season with 27:30 remaining in the contest. Smith again got to within 10 (12-2) three minutes later on junior Rachel Silveria (Dunstable, Mass./Groton-Dunstable)'s 10^th goal of the season.
 
Western New England answered with a goal of their own at the 22:49 mark to push their advantage back to 11, but Smith responded with first-year Caroline Myran (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Friends School)'s fifth goal of the season to trim their deficit back down to 10.
 
After back-to-back Golden Bear goals, senior Petru Bester (Deep River, Conn./Valley Regional) tallied her third goal of the year on a feed from Estes to close out the scoring for the Pioneers.
 
First-year Sarah Price (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) made a career-high 15 saves in 47 minutes of work between the pipes for Smith, while fellow classmate Meredith Britton (Old Lyme, Conn./Lyme-Old Lyme) notched her first collegiate save in 13 minutes of action.
 
The Pioneers are back in action on Tuesday, when they travel to Nichols College for a non-conference game starting at 7 p.m.