Robb Leads Field Hockey to Key 4-1 Win Over Smith

Photo of Lyons field hockey player, Margaret Robb.

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - First year Margaret Robb broke open a tight game with back-to-back goals, helping the Mount Holyoke College field hockey team to a 4-1 win over Smith College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday afternoon on the MHC Turf Field. With the victory, the Lyons move to 9-7 overall and are now 4-3 in conference play. The Pioneers are now also 9-7 and 4-3 in the NEWMAC. Both teams have secured spots in the conference postseason, but seeding remains to be determined following the conclusion of the regular season next weekend. MHC and Smith are both locked in a four-way tie for third.

The home team started scoring early in the contest as senior captain Colby Newsham (Harvard, Mass./Bromfield School) banked in the rebound of a Kristina Ramsden (Florence, Mass./Northampton) shot at 1:28. Mount Holyoke played solid defense throughout, including four saves from junior goalie Morgan Turner (Chester, N.J./West Morris Mendham).

Second half action got off to a quick start as well as Robb (Summit, N.J./Summit) carried the ball in toward the right post, sneaking it in past Smith goalie Channy Cornell (Arlington, Texas/The Oakridge School) at 38:16. The Lyons made it a 3-0 advantage soon after as rookie Kylie Brooks (Oceanside, Calif./Vista) tipped a Mirjam Keochakian (Hamburg, Germany/Deerfield Academy) shot toward the left side. Robb was there once again, sending the ball into the right corner of the goal less than a minute after her first tally.

The Pioneers broke onto the scoreboard at 54:22 after junior defender Sammie Pavlov (Royersford, Pa./Westtown School) sent a bulleted shot in on goal off a corner insertion. Her shot was tipped in front by senior forward Alex Larosee (Warwick, R.I./The Wheeler School) as the ball lifted into the left corner past Turner and the Lyons defense.

Despite a 15-6 shot advantage in the contest, including 10-5 tilt on goal, Smith was unable to solve the Lyons defense, which was aided by a pair of second-half defensive saves from Keochakian, along with three kick-stops from Turner.

Mount Holyoke concluded the scoring at the 65:40 mark after first year Abby Baldwin (Florence, Mass./Northampton) tipped the ball forward to sophomore Mirei Golding-Powers (San Francisco, Calif./San Francisco University HS), who shot low for the team's fourth goal.

Turner recorded seven of the Lyons nine saves in the contest, while Keochakian made two defensive stops for Mount Holyoke. Smith saw Cornell post one stop in the defeat.

MHC is back on the field on Tuesday when it travels to Worcester State for a 7pm contest against the Lancers. Smith is in action on Wednesday, hosting Keene State at 6:30pm.