SPRINGFIELD - The Smith College field hockey team opened the 2026 campaign with a 2-1 loss at Western New England University Tuesday evening. First year
Ari Martinez (Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina/Instituto Adveniat) scored her first career goal for the Bears.
Smith dips to 0-1 on the year, while the Golden Bears start the season 1-0.
Game Highlights
- Western New England scored at 4:29, with Abigail Petrini finishing off Maddie Ripley's assist
- Ellie Szostalo (Gorham, ME/Gorham) and Molly van Brunschot (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Dalton Spinoza Kyceum) combined for four of the Bears' seven shots, with Szostalo putting one on goal
- The Golden Bears doubled their lead at 16:54 on a tally by Mikayla Mrzywka
- The Bears matched WNEU with three shots in the quarter and put all three on goal, with Anouk Bosket (Jordanstown, Northern Ireland/Belfast Royal Academy) taking two and Megan O'Connor (Portsmouth, RI/Portsmouth Abbey School) adding one
- The Bears finally broke through with 2:49 remaining in the third period when Ari Martinez (Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina/Instituto Adveniat) scored on an assist from Isabel Johnson (Fort Worth, TX/Trinity Valley School), cutting the deficit to 2-1
- The Bears held a 5-3 shot advantage in the final quarter, while penalty corners were even at 2-2.
Up Next
Smith hosts the annual Caryl Newhof Classic this weekend. The Bears open against Gordon College Saturday at 12:00pm.
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.
