NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College field hockey team clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament with their 2-1 over Clark University Saturday afternoon on Senior Day.
The Pioneers conclude the regular season with a 10-8 overall record and 6-2 mark in conference play, while the Cougars end their 2016 campaign at 5-13, 0-8.
Smith wasted no time getting started as junior forward
Julia Hamilton (Williamstown, Mass./Deerfield Academy) took a
Caroline Labriola (Westbrook, Conn./Westbrook) pass and put it in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead 1:37 into the game.
Senior forward
Elsie Odhiambo (Oyugis, Kenya/Kisumu Girls School) doubled the lead as she broke free from her defender and blasted a shot past the keeper at the 13:07 mark.
The Cougars sliced that advantage in half almost just over a minute later when Olivia Barksdale recorded her 12th goal of the season.
Smith had a chance to take a 3-1 lead in the closing minute of the first period but Clark defender Anjelica Gonzalez batted away an aerial ball that was headed into the goal.
Odhiambo was just inches away from her second tally of the game but yet another outstanding play from a Clark defender preserved the 2-1 score.
The Pioneers held advantages in shots (16-10) and corners (11-5).
Cameo Tietje (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) made seven saves in the win, while her counterpart Dani Michaud stopped eight.
As the No. 2 seed, Smith earns a bye to the semi-finals to be played next Saturday at Babson. The Pioneers will play the winner of the No. 3 MIT and No. 6 Springfield game.
