Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth nearly erased a three-goal, first-half deficit by holding Smith College scoreless for 33 minutes, but the Pioneers were able to hold on for a 7-5 victory this afternoon in the 2015 women's lacrosse season-opener for both teams. Today marked the Corsair coaching debut for Keith Cory, who took over the program in January.
Sophomore Kelly Kryzak (Salisbury, Mass.) registered three points, on a goal and two assists, to lead the Corsairs (0-1). Classmates Catrina Longo (Billerica, Mass.) and Jess Miles (Lynnfield, Mass.) each netted a pair of markers, while Erin Kish (Littleton, Mass.) and Julia DiPillo (Medway, Mass.) tallied their first collegiate points.
Freshman Erin LeBlanc (Walpole, Mass.) reached double digits in saves (11) in her collegiate debut. She turned aside seven attempts in the first half to keep the visitors within striking distance.
Junior Rachel Silveria (Dunstable, Mass.) scored a game-high four points, including a hat trick, to power the Smith offensive attack. Senior Jenny Estes (Falmouth, Mass.) produced three points, on a goal and two assists. Freshman Sarah Price (Hudson, Ohio) stopped nine of the 14 shots she faced to earn her first collegiate victory.
Smith (1-0) charged out of the gates, as Silveria completed her hat trick 10:15 into regulation to give the Pioneers an early 3-1 lead. However, Miles netted a pair of markers within the span of 3:24 to draw UMass Dartmouth even at 3.
Freshman Julia Hamilton (Williamstown, Mass.) regained the hosts' advantage just 40 seconds later, sparking a three-goal outburst that sent Smith into the locker room with a 6-3 advantage.
The Corsairs dominated the second stanza, holding a 14-7 advantage in shots. UMass Dartmouth trimmed its deficit 4:55 into the second half, when Longo finished a feed from Kryzak for her second goal of the match. Neither team was able to crack the scoring column for the next 24 minutes until Kryzak buried her first goal of the campaign with 32 ticks left on the clock.
The Corsairs controlled the ensuing draw, but Smith forced a turnover as the visitors were entering the offensive zone. Following a foul, senior Simone Lawrence (Springfield, Mass.) broke in behind the UMass Dartmouth back line and netted an insurance marker with just one second left in regulation.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 3:30 p.m. on March 5, when the Corsairs travel to Mount Ida College.
