SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Sept. 18, 2010) – The Mount Holyoke College women's soccer played to a 1-1 tie with longtime rival Smith College this afternoon at the Mount Holyoke Soccer Field. It was the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both squads and the Lyons first home match of the 2010 campaign. The two teams last finished in a deadlock during the 2001 season.
Mount Holyoke senior goalkeeper Elaine Harvey turned in a terrific effort, stopping 12 shots. At the other end, junior Lindsey Gregor made eight saves for the Pioneers. Smith finished with large advantages in both shots (24-14) and corner kick opportunities (10-2).
The Lyons jumped out to a 1-0 edge at the 40:44 mark, when junior forward Margaret Hanmer scored her first collegiate goal off an assist from sophomore midfielder Veronica Farmer. After receiving a free kick, Farmer threaded the needle with a roller from just outside the box. The pass made its way through the Smith defense and found the foot of Hanmer, who deflected it past Gregor. It was Mount Holyoke's first tally of the year.
Refusing to go away, the Pioneers scored the equalizer in the 72nd minute. Junior forward Eleanor Theurer settled a bouncing ball about 10 yards outside the box, split the Mount Holyoke defense and fired a shot past Harvey from close range.
Both sides then went scoreless over the final 18:19 of regulation and two 10 minute overtime periods.
Smith outshot the Lyons 4-3 in extra time, but Harvey came up with several key saves. Her best came in the first minute of the second overtime, when she dove to her right to stop a blast off the foot of Theurer. The senior was also outstanding in regulation. In the first half, she stopped a free kick attempt from just outside the box. She then punched two attempts over the crossbar in the second stanza.
Mount Holyoke (0-3-1, 0-0-1 NEWMAC) will return to action on Tuesday, when it visits Wesleyan University for a non-conference tilt beginning at 4:30 p.m. Smith (0-3-1, 0-0-1 NEWMAC) is scheduled to host Elms College on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
