Smith Hands Wellesley Field Hockey 3-1 Setback

NORTHAMPTON, Mass.-- Wellesley College field hockey dropped a 3-1 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) final against Smith College on Saturday afternoon at the Smith Turf Field. Smith improves to 4-3 on the season and 2-0 in NEWMAC play, while Wellesley drops to 3-4 overall and 0-2 in the NEWMAC.

Wellesley senior Arielle Mitropoulos (Cambridge, Mass.) scored the lone goal for the Blue. Juniors Sammie Pavlov (Royersford, Pa.), Anna Ballou (Deerfield, Mass.), and sophomore Jenine Jacinto (Oceanside, Calif.) scored a goal each for Smith.

Pavlov opened up scoring for Smith at 2:56. Mitropoulos scored her third goal of the season to tied it up for the Blue at the 26:35 mark. Smith answered to take a 2-1 lead when junior Morgan Handwerger (Lancaster, Pa.) found Ballou to put away her first of the season. In the final minute of the first half, Jacinto extended the lead 3-1 for the Pioneers, scoring her first goal of the year.

Smith held the advantage in shots, 14-1 and penalty corners, 10-1. Wellesley senior goalkeeper Maggie Connelly (Duxbury, Mass.) made five saves in the setback and is now 3-4 on the season. Smith's first year goalkeeper Channy Cornell (Arlington, Tex.) improves to 3-3 on the season.

Wellesley will return to action when they travel to Bowdoin on Thursday, September 27 at 6:30 PM. Smith will play again on the road at Western New England on Tuesday, September 25 at 7:00 PM.