NEW LONDON, Conn.-- Junior Maddie Ryan (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) scored the game-winner a minute and 15 seconds into overtime as the Smith College lacrosse team came away with a 10-9 win over Coast Guard in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both teams. The Bears rallied with four goals in the final 11 minutes of play to force the extra priod. The Pioneers improve to 6-1 on the season and 1-0 in league action, while the Bears fall to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in the NEWMAC.

Ryan finished with three goals followed by Bryn Murray's (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) two tallies and two assists.

Freshman Maddie Rizutto tallied a hat trick and senior Carter Sanderson added a pair of goals to lead the Bears. Sophomores Luisa Santos, Etta Davis, Haley McCue and Haley Howard all scored a goal each to round out the Bears scoring. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Murray and Bella Ferraro (Orange, Conn./Amity) combined to score the first three goals of the game for Smith, as they jumped to a quick 3-0 lead in the opening 11 minutes. Rizutto put away her first of the game at 16:06 to put the Bears on the board as they trailed, 3-1. Maddie Ryan (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) scored for Smith at 6:19 to extend their lead 4-1. The Bears scored the final two goals of the half, as Sanderson and McCue brought the Bears within one, 4-3 heading into halftime.

Smith scored the opening three goals of the half, including two man-up goals to increase their advantage, 7-3. Howard scored her first of the game in a man-down situation at 16:36 to cut the deficit, 7-4. Smith took advantage on a man-up situation and scored at 15:13 to make it 8-4 but Rizutto answered under a minute later and scored her second of the game, man-down to bring the Bears within three. Kaitlin Chiu (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) scored the final goal for Smith in regulation on another man-up opportunity to increase the Pioneers lead, 9-5.

Sanderson scored her second of the game at 10:40, sparking a four-goal run capped by Etta Davis, scoring her lone goal of the game at 3:47 to send the game into overtime, 9-9.

Ryan ended the game on a free-position shot, a minute and 45 seconds into the overtime period, as Smith took the 10-9 victory in the NEWMAC opener.

Coast Guard outshot the Pioneers, 21-19 and held a 18-17 advantage in ground balls.

Sophomore goalkeper Mary Budri turned away five shots in the Bears setback, while first-year Alyssa Schams (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon) made nine saves for the Pioneers.