Kat Lopez ’16
Staff Writer
The Smith College soccer team had a promising start to the 2014-15 season with a trio of non-conference games. After playing Simmons College, the Massachusetts College of the Liberal Arts and Endicott College, the Pioneers record stands at 1-1-1.
While the majority of campus prepared for Convocation with their bunny ears, snapbacks and glitter, the team was warming up for their home opener against Simmons on Sep. 3. The team has capped off a major recruiting year with the addition of nine first years. Three of those first-years (Shelby Hall, Vicki Kraft, and Emma Gubbins) contributed as starters for the first three games of the season. The majority of the remaining starters were juniors, while two seniors and a sophomore rounded out the 11 group of Smith students. Smith and Simmons pressured each other to a scoreless tie after double overtime, despite the Pioneers outshooting Simmons 19-11. This was quite the improvement from last year’s 4-0 defeat to Simmons in Boston.
Smith next traveled to North Adams, Mass. to face MCLA on September 7. Smith once again outshot its opponent 17-6, and forced the home keeper to record seven saves. First-year goalie Shelby Hall recorded her second shutout of her collegiate career, and was only tested with one shot on goal thanks to the defensive line’s consistent clearing. Captain Jordan Houston ’16 managed to find a defensive hole after a punt from Hall to score the only goal of the game. The group effort was aided by strong possession in the midfield especially with the work from sophomores Innis HItt, Emily Smith and Jackie Foody who often went wide to create shooting opportunities.
Smith hosted their third game against Endicott College on Wednesday September 10. For the first time this season Smith was outshot 12-25. Endicott had managed a 5-0 shutout in the 2013 season, but would not find the net so easily this year. Hall logged 15 saves to keep the game scoreless until the second half when two goals were scored against the Pioneers. Smith’s determination never faltered as Kraft, Houston and Captain Jenna Bicierro ’15 led the offense with two shots a piece. Junior Jamie Cyr’s 88th-minute goal kept the loss close with a score of 2-1 at the final whistle.
Smith’s unique mixture of ambition and experience shows great potential. Goalkeeper Shelby Hall has made an important impact, and is currently no. 1 in NEWMAC for save percentage (.917) and goals against (2). She has also been honored as a NEWMAC defensive player of the week following her impressive record. When interviewed for the Sophian, Veteran player Alyssa Rooney ‘16 and Captain Bicierro agree that increased team chemistry and consistency have impacted the team’s improvement from last season. Smith soccer will next host Elms College on Wednesday September 17 at 4 PM before opening NEWMAC conference play in Northampton on Saturday September 20 against Clark University.
