NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Smith (3-1, 0-0) secured a 16-11 victory over Hartford (0-2, 0-0) at Smith Turf Field. The Bears' offensive effort was highlighted by six goals in both the first and fourth quarters.
Smith opened the first quarter with
Brooke Testa (Pittstown, NJ/Delaware Valley) in goal. Hartford scored first with Sara Costa finding the net at 13:56, but the Bears quickly responded.
Emma Butterick (Windsor, CT/Windsor) equalized at 12:33, followed by
Caroline Sanders (Orange County, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic) and
Kyra Hawk (San Jose, CA/The Harker School), who each scored to give Smith a 3-1 lead. Sanders' goal continued her impressive streak of scoring 2 or more goals in 3 consecutive games. After Hartford called a timeout, Laurel McIntosh narrowed the gap to 3-2 with her goal at 9:16. The Bears'
Layna Fitzgerald (Indianapolis, IN/Cathedral) scored twice, including one assisted by
Kyra Hawk (San Jose, CA/The Harker School), extending the lead to 6-2. Hartford's McIntosh scored again from a free position shot at 2:37, closing the quarter with Smith leading 6-3.
Smith extended its lead early in the second quarter with goals from Hawk at 14:24 and
Sofia Pascua (Carlsbad, CA/Sage Creek) shortly thereafter. Hartford responded with a strong offensive effort, highlighted by Lauren Samela's free position goal at 10:57 and Costa's score at 10:16. Katie Graham, assisted by Samela, added another for Hartford, bringing them closer. The Bears'
Jordan Hoffman (Portland, OR/Jesuit) scored at 3:00, assisted by
Skylar Burkhart (Woodinville, WA/Seattle Academy), to maintain their edge. Hartford's Graham scored again at 2:04, but Smith held a 9-7 lead at the end of the quarter.
In the third quarter, Hartford's Graham opened the scoring at 13:39, bringing them closer to the lead. Smith responded with a free position goal by Sanders at 5:38 to maintain their advantage. Sanders also recorded at least 2 assists in 3 straight games, showcasing her playmaking abilities. Despite several turnovers, the Bears' defense, led by
Leigh Hillmanno's (Yardville, NJ/Princeton Day School) crucial plays, kept Hartford at bay. However, Hartford's Samela netted a free position goal with 55 seconds remaining, tightening the scoreline to 10-9 as the quarter concluded.
The Bears secured a decisive victory over Hartford with a strong performance in the fourth quarter. Hartford initially took the lead with two goals from Kate Zonin, including a free position shot at 12:39. However, Smith responded with a series of goals, including scores from Hoffman at 10:30 and Hawk at 9:16, to regain the lead. Hawk's performance was notable as she notched at least 6 shots in 3 consecutive games, contributing significantly to the team's offensive efforts. The team maintained their momentum with additional goals from
Darci DeAngelis (Boise, ID/Boise), Burkhart, and another by Hawk, closing the quarter with a 16-11 final score. The Bears' defensive efforts included a key save by
Shannon Houtenville (East Windsor, NJ/Highstown), thwarting a Hartford free position attempt at 7:17.
Smith Top Performers
Kyra Hawk (San Jose, CA/The Harker School)
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- 5 goals
- 2 assists
- 6 shots
- 3 unassisted goals
Layna Fitzgerald (Indianapolis, IN/Cathedral)
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- 2 goals
- 4 shots
- 1 unassisted goal
Jordan Hoffman (Portland, OR/Jesuit)
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- 2 goals
- 2 shots
Caroline Sanders (Orange County, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic)
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- 2 goals
- 2 assists
- 7 shots
Up Next
Bears will travel jus tup the road to Amherst next Tuesday to take on the Mammoths.
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 GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram.
