NEED TO KNOW
Score: Smith 2 Wellesley 3
Records: Pioneers 4-8, 2-3 NEWMAC, Blue 6-3, 4-0

WELLESLEY, Mass. - A hat trick from Wellesley's Alex Lenart gave the Blue a 3-2 win over the Smith College field hockey team in a tightly contested New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Late in the first quarter, Cass Novello was handed a green card and the Blue faced the next two minutes a player down. Over the span, the Pioneers earned four penalty corners and fired up four shots. Goalkeeper Kyra Deer-Lewis stayed poised and made two difficult saves to keep the match scoreless. 

Wellesley would find its first goal in the middle of the second quarter, after Novello made a quick move and found Lenart. The forward was able to finish the play, and gave the Blue a 1-0 lead. Smith would earn four more penalty corners in the remainder of the half and put up six shots on goal, but all were saved once again by the Wellesley goalkeeper.

The second half began with Wellesley applying the pressure, as Maddie Bettencourt put up a shot that was saved by Channy Cornell (Arlington, Tex./The Oakridge School). Cornell would make two more saves before Smith's Victoria Mellow (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) scored the equalizer. It was her sixth goal of the season and notched the game at 1-1. 

Just 2:33 into the final quarter, Lenart poured in her second goal of the game as Wellesley regained the lead. It came unassisted and was the eighth goal of the year for Lenart. The clutch sophomore would not be done just yet, as she fought for her second goal of the quarter and third of the contest. The goal was set up by first year Camille Newman as she earned her first career assist. With under two minutes remaining, Smith added a second goal this time from Eva Kinnel (Newtown, Penn./George School) and cut the deficit to one. However, the Wellesley Blue defense held strong and came away with the 3-2 win. Cornell finsihed the game with five saves.

UP NEXT
Smith will host Western New England University on Wednesday, October 13 at 6:00 PM

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.