WELLESLEY - Senior Caroline Sanders (Orange County, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic) scored a career-high six goals to propel the Smith College lacrosse team to a 16-9 win at Wellesley College Saturday afternoon in NEWMAC action. The Bears improve to 9-6 overall and 5-2 in conference play, while the Blue drop to 4-9 on the year and 2-6 in the NEWMAC. Junior Kyra Hawk (San Jose, CA/The Harker School) totaled three goals and an assist to bring her career point total to 198. Sanders now has 196 career points.

The first quarter began with the Sanders winning the draw control and quickly capitalizing with a goal at 14:21, her 28th of the season. The Blue responded with Milica Simic scoring a free position goal at 13:41, leveling the score. Charlotte Petersen-Kopman then gave the Blue a 2-1 lead with a goal at 11:34. The Bears' Layna Fitzgerald (Indianapolis, IN/Cathedral) tied the game at 2-2 followed by Sanders, putting the Bears ahead 3-2. A Wellesley score with 1:22 remaining tied the game at 3-3 heading into the second.

Hawk gave Smith the early momentum in the second scoring twice, first at 13:34 with an assist from Yasmin Grant (South Orange, NJ/Columbia) and again at 13:07 assisted by Jenna Paczkowski (Jupiter, FL/Choate Rosemary Hall). The Blue's Milica Simic responded with a goal from a free position shot at 7:38, narrowing the deficit. The Bears extended their lead with a goal by Paczkowski at 4:37, assisted by Emma Butterick (Windsor, CT/Windsor). Sanders added a free position tally at 1:13, solidifying the Bears' advantage to end the quarter with a 7-4 lead.

Smith came out with a strong showing in the third quarter, beginning with Butterick scoring at 13:51 to increase their advantage. Despite a player-up goal by the Blue's Katie McCabe at 11:33, the Bears responded with Fitzgerald's goal at 7:05, assisted by Caroline Weyhrich (Boise, ID/Boise). Sanders capitalized on a scoring opportunity at 2:49, bringing her season total to 31 goals. The quarter concluded with Hawk netting a goal with just three seconds remaining, assisted by Weyhrich, to secure an 11-6 lead heading into the final quarter.

Smith maintained its lead with a strong fourth quarter performance against the Blue, securing a 16-9 victory. Sanders scored twice during the quarter, including a free-position goal at 1:45. Fitzgerald was instrumental, scoring twice and assisting once, while Sofia Pascua (Carlsbad, CA/Sage Creek) added a goal at 9:00, assisted by Fitzgerald. The Blue managed goals from Woodard and Merin Shell, but the Bears' consistent scoring and control of draw controls put the game out of reach.

Smith Top Performers
Caroline Sanders (Orange County, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic)
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- 6 goals
- 8 shots on goal
- 1 game-winning goal

Layna Fitzgerald (Indianapolis, IN/Cathedral)
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- 4 goals
- 11 shots
- 8 shots on goal

Kyra Hawk (San Jose, CA/The Harker School)
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- 3 goals
- 1 assist
- 6 shots

Jenna Paczkowski (Jupiter, FL/Choate Rosemary Hall)
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- 1 goal
- 2 assists
- 3 shots on goal

Up Next
Smith has the week off before hosting Senior Day against Emerson at 1:00pm on Saturday, April 18

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