Elizabeth Muirhead
As classes resume and Massachusetts cools down, our Fall sports teams are just beginning their seasons. Most teams have had the opportunity to play a few games, but the majority of their work is still to come. So who can we look out for this Fall?
Cross country held an invitational last Saturday, hosting Mount Holyoke, Springfield, Keene State, Babson and Dean College. 86 athletes, across the six schools, competed in the Women’s 5K. Smith placed first overall, and individual athletes Karena Garcia ’21, Frances Duncan ’20, and Haley Markos ’20 placed 3rd, 4th and 5th, respectively. On Sept. 22, Smith is set to travel to an invitational at Williams College. Then, on Oct. 6, they will participate in the James Earley Invitational in Westfield, Mass.
Over on the turf, field hockey has already had three games. Their first was a 5-1 win over the University of Maine-Farmington. The following two games were losses against SUNY Cortland and Trinity College in Connecticut. Fortunately, they have six upcoming games on the schedule for September alone. Last season, they played against five of those six upcoming teams and defeated three of them. In the 2017 season, the team earned a respectable 9-10 record, so hopefully, they can have another successful season this Fall. If you’re interested in seeing the team in action, they compete in home games against Albertus Magnus College next Tuesday, the 18th, and Wellesley College that Saturday.
Smith Soccer has gotten off to a favorable start, winning three of the five games that they’ve played. They have six more games on the calendar for September, including home games on the 15th against Wellesley College, the 22nd against MIT and the 25th against Western New England University. Last season, they beat Wellesley College in a narrow 1-0 game, and they defeated Western New England 3-0. However, their record from last season may not be indicative of what’s to come. Given that nine seniors from the 2017 team graduated, Smith Soccer should look different this Fall.
Since tennis has both Fall and Spring seasons, they have some upcoming matches. They have several away matches, including Curry College and Williams College. Fortunately, they have a home match against Simmons College on Oct. 8. Last season, the team had a tough record of 1-15, but their one win was against Simmons College. Given that the majority of the team are members of the class of 2020, they still have time to improve and hopefully lead a more successful season.
The volleyball season is already in full swing with five games completed as of Sept. 10, with many more scheduled for the upcoming weeks. So far this season, the team has gone 0-5, but during the 2017 season, they earned a respectable 11-16 record. Hopefully their luck will turn with the upcoming home games on the 15th and 18th. They are set to take on MIT, Simmons, and WPI.
In the dawn of our Fall 2018 season, our sports teams have long, tough roads ahead of them. The new season provides athletes with the opportunity to renew their efforts and start fresh. Be sure to check online for information about upcoming games, and make some time to go out and support your friends.
