Brigit McDannell ’18
Sports Editor
Soccer
This past week the Pioneer Fall sports teams experienced a mix of wins, losses and season openers. Smith athletes played well and with determination, but some teams fell to other schools’ dominating power.
In soccer, the Pioneers have had a difficult two weeks. Although they have lost the past three games, they played each game with valor. On Smith’s home field, our soccer team lost to Springfield College 0-2 Oct. 6. Their second loss was an away game in Boston on Oct. 10, when they played Emerson College, resulting in a 0-4 final score. Both games were NEWMAC contests, bringing the Pioneers down in the rankings. Their third loss was a home game, against Keene State, 2-3. The Pioneers dropped to 5-4-3 overall, 1-2-2 in conference play. Hoever, star player Jordan Isaacs ’18 registered a team record-high for Smith.
On Oct. 17, the soccer team played MIT, ending the game with a triumphant win 2-1. The Pioneers wore pink warm-up shirts prior to the game to support breast cancer awareness. Donations were collected at the game, the proceeds of which benefitted the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Smith will host WPI on Oct. 20 at 4 p.m.
Equestrian
Competing in Williamstown, Mass. the Smith Equestrian Team received the coveted Champion High Point College title Oct. 17 at the Williams Horse Show. Riders dominated the Intermediate Division with Sarah Pavlich ’18, who received Champion Intermediate High Point Rider of the Day, and Jordan Menter ’16, who was Reserve Champion of the Day. Dara Brena ’17 qualified for the Regional Championships in Intermediate Equitation Over Fences and Pavlich qualified in Intermediate Equitation on the Flat. The team brought home 29 ribbons.
Field Hockey
In field hockey, four different Smith players scored goals as the Pioneers posted a 4-0 win over Westfield State in non-conference contest on Oct. 13. Smith moved up in the ranks to 7-6 in the season with the win.
Kat Estes ’16 opened the scoring for Smith with an impressive penalty stroke in the twenty-second minute. Estes lifted a waist-high shot to the right post to score the goal.
The Pioneers added to the lead when Beatrice Chaudoin ’19 gained leverage from the momentum off of a penalty corner feed from an assist made by Julia Hamilton ’18 in minute 25. Smith made two more goals of second half goals within a four-minute span. Emily Biggs ’19 scored off from a tricky corner play, and Elsie Odhiambo ’17 scored during a transition goal, redirecting a long center pass from Mariah Ollive ’18 on the left flank. Smith had a 24-8 advantage in total shots of the game and an 8-4 edge in penalty corners.
Westfield State goalie Megan Fountaine made ten saves, while Smith’s Cameo Tietje ’18 deflected five shots before yielding to Nora Demick ’16 for the final six minutes of play. Demick did not need record a save during her time in goal.
Smith hosted MIT on Oct. 17 where the Pioneers honored their four seniors graduating this year. Smith won their senior game with a final score of 3-2. Smith improves to 8-6 and 4-2 in conference play. With the win, the Pioneers now lead an all-time series of 16-15, earning their first win against the MIT Engineers since the 2008 season.
Crew
The Smith Crew team opened their season Oct. 10 at the Snake Regatta held on Lake Quinsigamond. The varsity team is in training to compete at the Seven Sisters Championship later this month.
Racing at the Snake Regatta began with the Smith “A” varsity four-boat racing in a strong headwind, finishing twelfth out of 18 boats with a time of 22:14.013. The three Varsity Eights were, an A boat and two even line-ups in the B and C boats. The A boat finished eighth out of 27 boats with a time of 16:30.686. Their time was an improvement on last fall’s final standing at the Head of the Snake. Smith B finished the course 18:14.181 to place 23rd. Smith C finished 20th with a time of 18:00.746.
The novice squad battled a strong headwind and finished 12th and 15th out of 19 crews.
