SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Apr. 10, 2012) – The Mount Holyoke College lacrosse team fell 13-9 to longtime rival Smith College this evening in NEWMAC action at the Turf Field. Sophomore attacker Liz Randolph collected three goals and one assist for the Lyons, who entered the contest with three straight wins over the Pioneers. It was her first hat trick of the year and sixth of her career.

Mount Holyoke also received a boost from sophomore midfielder Brianne Phelan, who found the back of the net twice. Junior attackers Molly Macdonald and Christina Horimoto chipped in with one goal and one assist apiece, while sophomore midfielder Naomi Miller added a goal and six ground balls.

First year midfielder Mckenzie Hessel exploded for seven goals and five draw controls to set the tone for Smith. The Pioneers also received an outstanding effort from sophomore midfielder Becky Bracken, who racked up four goals, one assist and five draw controls. Senior midfielder Meaghan Fileti and first year attacker Jessica Lilliquist added one goal each.

The teams went back-and-forth in the early stages, with neither side leading by more than a goal. After back-to-back tallies by Randolph and Horimoto put Mount Holyoke in front 5-4 at the 3:11 mark of the first half, Hessel erupted for three unanswered goals to give the Pioneers a 7-5 advantage just over three minutes into the second stanza.

Refusing to go away, the Lyons knotted things up at 7-7 behind consecutive goals by Randolph in the middle stages of the second period.

From there, it was all Smith. The Pioneers scored four straight times and never looked back. Hessel's sixth tally of the day closed out the rally and gave her team an 11-7 cushion with 7:32 remaining in regulation.

Smith finished with advantages in shots (34-24) and draw controls (18-6). Junior goalkeeper Alina Pechacek went the distance between the pipes for the guests, stopping seven shots.

At the other end, junior Liz Malenfant made 12 saves for the Lyons.

Both squads will resume their NEWMAC schedules on Saturday at noon. Mount Holyoke (5-6, 1-3 NEWMAC) will look to keep its postseason hopes alive at home against Babson College. Meanwhile, Smith (7-5, 2-2 NEWMAC) will visit Wellesley College in search of its second consecutive league win. The Pioneers currently occupy the fifth slot in the NEWMAC standings.

Photo Gallery by Leila Quinn '12