NORTHAMPTON, MA. - A dominant fourth-quarter effort wasn't enough to complete the comeback, as the Smith College lacrosse team fell to Babson 17-11 in a NEWMAC matchup on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers outscored the Beavers 5-0 in the final frame, but Babson's early offensive surge proved too much to overcome.

Game Highlights

• Kyra Hawk (San Jose, CA/The Harker School) led Smith with five goals, including two in the fourth quarter.

• Sadie Tschider (Piedmont, CA/Piedmont) recorded a hat trick, scoring in three different quarters.

• Jenna Paczkowski (Jupiter, FL/Choate Rosemary Hall) added two goals and one assist.

• Caroline Sanders (Orange County, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic) facilitated the offense with seven assists, tying her season high.

• Brooke Testa (Pittstown, NJ/Delaware Valley) made seven saves in goal for the Pioneers.

• Smith dominated the fourth quarter, outshooting Babson 9-7 and forcing five turnovers.

How It Happened

Babson came out firing, scoring six goals in the first quarter to establish early control. Smith fought back with goals from Hawk, Fitzgerald, and Tschider, but the Beavers responded with another offensive surge in the second quarter, building a 15-5 halftime lead.

The Pioneers regrouped at halftime, tightening their defensive shape and limiting Babson to just two goals in the third quarter. Smith's ride pressure forced the Beavers into uncharacteristic mistakes, and the Pioneers started winning key ground balls and draw controls.

Smith carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, delivering its best stretch of the game. Hawk ignited the comeback bid with a goal at the 12:25 mark, followed by a smooth finish from Tschider off a Paczkowski feed. The Pioneers kept pressing, with Paczkowski and Hawk adding back-to-back scores to cut into Babson's lead. Smith's defense, led by Sanders and Jordan Hoffman (Portland, OR/Jesuit), locked down the Beavers' attack, causing five turnovers and allowing no goals in the final 15 minutes. Hawk capped the dominant quarter with her fifth goal of the game in the closing minutes, highlighting Smith's fight until the final whistle.

Despite the loss, Smith (5-4, 1-1 NEWMAC) showed resilience against one of the conference's top teams.

Up Next

The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday when they host Springfield at 6 PM EST. 

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, and Instagram.