Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -  After Beatrice Chaudoin (Millersville, MD/Severna Park) gave the Smith College Field Hockey Team a 1-0 lead at #18 Williams, the Ephs used a single goal in each half to sneak past the Pioneers 2-1 in an evenly played non-conference matchup on Tuesday.

Playing their second Top-20 opponent of the season, Smith lit the scoreboard in the 20th minute after withstanding an early Williams push as the Ephs earned three penalty corners and forced one save by Smith goalkeeper Nora Demick (Watertown, Mass/Beaver Country Day) in the first 17 minutes.  After the Pioneers found a foot in the circle, Kat Estes (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) inserted on the ensuing penalty corner to Chaudoin at the top of the circle, whose straight-shot rocket was tucked inside the left post for the 1-0 edge. 

Lifted by the early goal, the Pioneers continued to push numbers forward and earned six additional corners in the half.  Smith nearly went ahead 2-0 at the 32-minute mark when Mariah Ollive (Milton, Vt./Milton) beat Williams goalkeeper Margaret Draper.  On the goalline was defender Emma Grauberger to steer the shot aside. 

Under two minutes later and against the run of play, WIlliams leveled the contest on a penalty corner of their own, as Alex Bennett tallied on a feed from Rachel Brissette. 

First-half shots were even at six apiece and Smith earned seven penalty corners in the opening 35 compared to five for Williams.

Little spearated to the two sides after the intermission with Williams holding a slight 8-6 edge in shots but possession and scoring opportunities even.

Williams opened the second half with an attacking wave, taking the first three shots of the period.  Demick was up to the challenge each time to keep the match level, part of a six save effort by the senior.  The go-ahead goal again came against the run of play as Smith began to control possession in the midfield.  Following a turnover, the Ephs counterattacked down the right side with Annie VanWagenen gathering a loose ball in the circle in front of Demick.  VanWagenen feathered a pass in front of the net to Meredith Wright, who tapped the ball further to Claire Swingle at the back post.  With the Pioneer defense tackling back, Swingle released her shot just in time, flipping it over the line for the 2-1 lead.

Smith responded with poise and purpose against their New England Small College Athletic Conference foe, forcing a pair of saves on shots from Elsie Odhiambo (Oyugis, Kenya/Kisumu Girls School) and Casey Rau (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) in the first five minutes after the second Williams goal.  Still trailing 2-1 inside the final two minutes of play, Draper stopped a Kathleen Lima (Cheshire, CT/Northfield Mount Hermon) attempt but the ensuing rebound resulted in a penalty corner.  Draper made a game-saving play on the Smith blast from the top.

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday with a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference match at Wheaton.  Play is scheduled for 1 p.m.