Second Half Goal Sends Smith Past No. 16 Blue Field Hockey, 1-0

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Smith College sophomore Emily Biggs (Florence, Mass.) scored the only goal of the game in the second half to lift the Pioneers to a 1-0 New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over No. 16 Wellesley College field hockey on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Wellesley Fields Complex.

Smith improves to 6-4 on the year and 2-0 in conference play, earning the team's first victory over the Blue since the Pioneers earned a 5-3 win on October 7, 2006. Wellesley is now 5-4 on the season, dropping to 2-1 in NEWMAC games.

The Blue carried the play in the opening half, outshooting the Pioneers 8-1 and earning four penalty corners. However, Wellesley's offensive advantage failed to yield the game's opening goal as the teams went into the half still level at 0-0.

The Pioneers turned the game in the second half, amassing an 8-2 advantage in shots and a 5-1 edge in penalty corner opportunities. The third Smith penalty corner of the period proved to be the difference maker, as Biggs redirected the ball into the right side of the Blue cage on a feed from the opposite side by junior Mariah Olive (Milton, Vt.).

Smith junior goalkeeper Cameo Tietje (Massapequa, N.Y.) made five saves to record her third consecutive shutout and improve to 6-4 on the year. Wellesley sophomore Maggie Connelly (Duxbury, Mass.) made three saves, all in the second half, but drops to 2-3 on the season with the result.

Wellesley had a slight edge in shots, 10-9, in the contest, while the teams were even in penalty corner chances with five a side.   

Wellesley continues NEWMAC play on Tuesday, October 4, when they welcome cross-town rival Babson to turf for a 4:00 PM start. Smith will be on the road for a 7:00 PM NEWMAC contest on Tuesday at rival Mount Holyoke.