Box Score
NORTHAMPTON - Blair Rapalyea '09 (Prides Crossing, MA) led the Smith College lacrosse team to a 14-13 win over Westfield State, scoring 5 of the Pioneers 14 goals, including the game-winning goal. With the win the Pioneers improve to 3-7, while the Owls drop to 9-3 on the season.
The Pioneers began the game with their first goal only 2 minutes into play when Phoebe Hopkins '12 (Philadelphia, PA) capitalized on a free position opportunity (27:55). Mary Pasini '12 (Columbus, OH) made the game 2-0 only 55 seconds later (27:00). At 23:57 Rapalyea scored her first of five goals to give Smith a 3-0 lead.
Rachael Dionne '11 (Feeding Hills, MA) put the Owls on the board at 22:40; however, Carolyn Whiting '10 (S. Orange, NJ) found the back of the net only 22 seconds later to increase the Pioneers lead back to 3. Smith and Westfield traded goals until the Pioneers went on a 4-0 run to close out the half with a score of 9-3.
Whiting scored the first goal of the second half at 24:03 to give the Pioneers the 6 goal advantage. Again, the two teams exchanged goals until the Owls scored 3 goals in less than two minutes shrinking Smith's lead to 4 with 16 minutes to go in the match. Meaghan Fileti '12 (Palos Verdes Ests., CA) scored her second goal of the match at 15:42 followed by Rapalyea's 5th, and game-winning goal, at 14:35.
The Owls continued to battle scoring two goals to bring the game to 14-13 with five minutes remaining; however, Westfield State was unable to equalize as the final 5 minutes proved to be scoreless.