NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- GiGi Ross scored a pair of goals as the Smith College soccer team opened their 2012 NEWMAC schedule with a 3-0 win over longtime rival Mount Holyoke College. It was the first time Smith had beaten the Lyons since 2009.

Smith won their second consecutive game to improve to 3-2 overall, and 1-0 in NEWMAC play, while Mount Holyoke lost their third straight game and fell to 0-4-1, and 0-1 against NEWMAC competition.

Smith tested Mount Holyoke goalie Mackenzie Randall in the early going.  Randall palmed away Lizzy Jarrett's shot in the fifth minute, and blocked a followup attempt from Ross.  

The Pioneers made the break through at 19:19 mark, as Jordan Houston slipped in a pass that Ross duly converted past Randall for her first collegiate goal.  Seven minutes later, Ross doubled the lead when she latched onto a pass from Aidan Hitt and slipped it in at the near post.

Smith almost made it 3-0 with 10 minutes to go before the half, as Hitt's long free kick rattled off the crossbar from 30 yards away.  The Lyons nearly got on the board in the 71st minute, but Cody Norris got down to block Kara Singleton's effort.

A minute later, Smith put the game away. Hitt's short free kick caught Mount Holyoke out, and Allie Rooney curled her third of the year past Randall.

Norris made four saves for the Pioneers' second consecutive shutout, while Randall finished with seven stops.

Smith will next be in action on September 19, facing Elms College at 4 p.m.  Mount Holyoke will host Western New England University on September 18 at 4 p.m.