NEW LONDON, CT - OnSaturday afternoon, Smith College showed grit and determination but ultimately fell to Coast Guard in a high-scoring matchup in New London, CT. Despite a dominant fourth-period effort and a strong offensive push in the second half, Smith couldn't recover from an early deficit, dropping the game 11-9. 

Slow Start for Smith

Smith struggled to find their rhythm early, allowing Coast Guard to dictate the pace in the opening half. Coast Guard stormed out of the gate, netting five goals in the first period while Smith managed one thanks to a goal from Sadie Tschider (Piedmont, CA/Piedmont) with an assist from Carolien Sanders. The second period followed a similar pattern, with Coast Guard adding three more goals, while Smith again found the net just once with Jordan Hoffman (Portland, OR/Jesuit) getting on the scoresheet. A few missed opportunities on Smith's part, including shots that hit the post and close-range saves by Coast Guard's goalkeeper, kept them from closing the gap before halftime.

Stronger Second Half by Smith

After the break, Smith came out with renewed energy and doubled their goal total in the third period, scoring twice with Kyra Hawk (San Jose, CA/The Harker School) and Jenna Paczkowski (Jupiter, FL/Choate Rosemary Hall) added to the Smith total. Their offensive ball movement improved, and they were more aggressive in taking shots. However, Coast Guard continued to add two more to their total. 

The final period saw Smith's best offensive stretch of the game, as they erupted for five goals, outscoring Coast Guard 5-1. Players found their rhythm, executing quick transitions and converting on scoring chances that had eluded them earlier in the match. The late push showed Smith's ability to respond under pressure, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. Sanders and Tschider both found the bth of the net with Paczkowski adding another one to her total. Emma Butterick (Windsor, CT/Windsor) also score with 8 seconds left to close the game at 11-9. 

In goal, Brooke Testa (Pittstown, NJ/Delaware Valley) made 16 saves across the 60 minutes. Testa has 37 saves over the past two games for Smith in net. 
 

Up Next

The Pioneers (5-6, 1-3 NEWMAC) return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Salve Regina at 6 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 and Instagram.