GAME INFORMATION
Score: Smith 8, Western Connecticut State 7
Records: Smith (2-1), Western Connecticut (1-1)
Location: Smith Turf Field - Northampton, Mass.

Junior Julia Hamilton (Williamstown, Mass./Deerfield Academy ) recorded her 100th career point as the Smith College lacrosse team edged Western Connecticut State University, 8-7, Wednesday evening at Smith Turf Field in the first ever meeting between the two programs.

SMITH HIGHLIGHTS

• Hamilton's three goals led the Pioneer offense.
• First year Sydney Garner (Beaverton, Ore./Oregon Episcopal School) added two goals and four draw controls.
• Junior Caroline Myran (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Friends School) and first years Mercedes Wooley and Bella Ferraro (Orange, Conn./Amity) rounded out the scoring for Smith.
• Defensively, senior Quinn Lavigne (Portland, Maine/Portland) finished with four ground balls and four forced turnovers.

WESTERN CONNECTICUT HIGHLIGHTS

• Destinee Carey paced the Colonial offense with five goals and one assist while recording seven ground balls, six caused turnovers and two draw controls.
• Brooke Baldelli tallied two goals and four ground balls.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pioneers were the first to get on the board with back to back goals from Hamilton and Garner, before Carey responded with a score of her own. Garner added her second tally of the game under a minute later to give the Pioneers a 3-1 advantage with 21:23 on the clock.

Baldelli and Carey each found the back of the net as the Colonials tied the game at the 18:41 mark. Both teams exchanged goals in the final 14:27 of the game as Smith and WCSU went into the locker room tied 4-4.

The Pioneer offense came out on fire as Smith opened the second half on a 3-0 run. Hamilton scored the first two and recorded her 100th career point at the 22:06 mark. Ferraro notched her first collegiate goal on a beautiful pass from Chloe Harris (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) 9:10 into the second period to give the Pioneers a 7-4 lead.

Smith led 8-5 on Wooley's first goal of the season but the Colonials would continue to keep the pressure on, scoring the game's final two goals in the final 8:05 to keep it close. Price forced a turnover in the final minute of the game to secure the victory for the Pioneers.


GAME NOTES

• The Colonials held a 22-11 advantage in shots while Smith claimed a 9-8 edge in draw controls.
• Smith goalkeeper Sarah Price (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) was outstanding in net making 12 saves in the win. Western Connecticut State netminder Missy O'Donnell stopped nine for the Colonials.

UP NEXT
Smith heads to Florida where the Pioneers will play three games starting with Ohio Wesleyan University on Monday at 12:30 p.m.

For all the coverage of Smith lacrosse, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and online at www.smithpioneers.com.