NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Curry College women's lacrosse team opened the season with a 16-6 defeat to Smith College on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Pioneers improve to 1-1 while the Colonels start the year at 0-1.
As play opened, the hosts struck first, as Bryn Murray (Glastonbury, Conn.) converted a free position shot after a Curry yellow card. Over the next two minutes, despite being a player-down, the Pioneers cashed in twice to extend their lead to three. Murray scored the first, with an assist from Shannon McGinnis (Levittown, Pa.), before McGinnis made it 3-0 with a goal of her own. Curry goalie Jessica Ginait (Warwick, R.I.) worked to keep the Colonels close, making three straight saves, including on a pair of free position shots, but with 16-and-a-half minutes to play in the first, Reese Gittelman (Ocean City, Md.) made it 4-0 in favor of the Pioneers. The hosts' lead would reach 6-0 before an unassisted marker from Sharon Doherty (North Easton, Mass.) put the Colonels on the board with their first score of the season. After another pair of Smith scores, Leona Stevens (Kingston, Mass.) made it 8-2 on a free position chance. It would be the final marker of the half, though, as Smith entered the half with a six-goal advantage.
Out of the break, a trio of goals by the Pioneers over the course of 52 seconds quickly brought the score to 11-2. With just over eight minutes to play in regulation, the hosts extended their lead to 14 thanks to a score by Sydney Havlick (Murrieta, Calif.). However, it would be their final score of the day, as Curry began to turn up the pressure. Over the next four minutes, Doherty and Stevens both scored their second goals of the day, which brought the score to 16-4. With 2:12 left on the clock, Colonel freshman Marissa McCarthy (East Bridgewater, Mass.) tallied her first collegiate goal, before Stevens picked up her hat trick goal with just eight seconds remaining. However, the Colonels' comeback chance ran out of time, as the Pioneers secured their first win of the season by a final score of 16-6.
Stevens led the Colonel offense with her three goals, while also topping the team in shots, all four of which went on goal. Murray turned in a game-high five scores for Smith, scoring on every shot she took. Murray also led the team with five draw controls, while Bella Ferraro (Orange, Conn.) and McGinnis turned in three caused turnovers apiece.
Smith will continue their schedule by remaining in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), as they travel to take on Western New England on Wednesday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. The Colonels will get back to action with their home opener, as they host the Eastern Connecticut State Warriors on Tuesday, March 3, also at 4:00 p.m.
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