MATCH PROGRAM (PDF) / LIVE STATS
THE MATCHUP: Mount Holyoke is back on its home turf for the 2012 NEWMAC opener against rival Smith College at 1pm. The game marks the 50th all-time meeting between the two schools, with Mount Holyoke holding a 24-23-2 edge in the series. The Lyons have claimed victory in each of the last 10 meetings.
THE MOUNT HOLYOKE LYONS: Mount Holyoke (2-2, 0-0 NEWMAC) shouldered an 8-1 loss at the hands of #11 Amherst on Tuesday evening. Amherst jumped out to an early lead as Ellie Anderson's shot at 3:15 went just inside the right post for a 1-0 lead. The Lord Jeffs tacked on four more tallies to head into the intermission with a 5-0 lead over the Lyons. The offense continued for the home team right out the gate in the second half as Katie McMahon, who posted a goal
and an assist in the opening half, scored back-to-back and then set up Amherst's eighth goal by Krista Zsitvay at 48:16. Mount Holyoke broke up the shutout at 52:47 as senior Angelica Pascual knocked in the rebound of a Chrissy Boyles shot, but the Lyons could not clost the gap any further. Lord Jeffs' keeper Rachel Tannenbaum finished with three saves in net over 50:04. Claudia Easton came on in relief, stopping six shots over 14:44, before giving way to Sarah Wise, who played the final 5:12 with no stops for Amherst. For the Lyons, senior Anne O'Byrne made 14 saves in the loss.
THE SMITH PIONEERS: Smith (2-2, 0-0 NEWMAC) worked its way back to .500 with an 11-2 non-conference victory over Elms College on Tuesday afternoon. The Blazers opened the scoring, but Smith answered through Allie Stein, who finished off a pass from Alexa DeJesus for her ninth of the season. The Pioneers added another tally three minutes later and took the lead once again at 23:04 as Stein scored off another feed from DeJesus. Smith would go on to take a 7-2 lead after the opening frame and score four more in the second half for the victory. DeJesus finished the game with five assists, breaking her own mark of three set a season ago. Stein finished the game with 13 points, which ties her own school record set last season. Smith played three goalies - Abbey Fleming started and played the first 20 minutes, not making a save, while Savannah Lawson came on in relief and played 31:55. Nora Demick made her first collegiate appearance, playing the final 18:16 and making one save.
NEXT UP: The Lyons travel to Springfield for a 7pm match against Western New England on Tuesday. Smith hosts Wesfield State, also on Tuesday at 4:30pm.
