NEW HAVEN, CONN. – Sophomore midfielder
Meghan Smith (Pittsford, N.Y.) became the seventh
Hawk in school history to break the century mark in career points,
notching five goals in today's Northeast-10 Conference game
at the University of New Haven. Smith however represented the
majority of the Hawks' offense, as they fell to the Chargers
by a score of 16-9. The win lifts the Chargers to 6-8 (5-5
NE-10) and clinches them at least a share of the sixth and final
playoff spot, while the Hawks' seventh NE-10 loss eliminates
them from contention as they slip to 4-8 (2-7 NE-10).
New Haven's Sarah Magnone opened the
scoring at 27:55, converting a pass from Natalie
Lieberman for the first goal of the game. Meghan
Smith responded quickly with a goal of her own just 18 seconds
later, as Tia Karon (Medford, Mass.) won the draw
control and passed it to Smith who ran the ball in for an
unassisted goal to tie the score at one.
Natalie Lieberman put the Chargers back up 2-1 at 26:41, but
Smith tied the score again at 21:47 on a free position shot.
The Chargers then went on a huge 7-1 scoring run to take a 9-3 lead
with under five minutes to play in the first half.
Leigh Krzyston (Bedford, N.H.) got one back for
the Hawks on a free position shot 14 seconds before halftime, but
the Hawks went into the break trailing 9-4.
The Hawks played closer to the Chargers in the second half,
never allowing them more than two goals without scoring one
themselves, but when the horn blew at the end of regulation, the
Chargers were ahead 16-9.
Meghan Smith led both teams with five goals in the game.
Smith is now ranked seventh all-time for the Hawks in both goals
(81) and points (103), and she is just two goals shy of fifth place
(Courtney Ford, 83). At the rate she is going, she has a
chance to break the Hawks' all-time scoring records for
career points and goals, both of which are held by Lauren
Glancy '07, who finished with 243 points and 178
goals.
Sarah Magnone and Sarah LeGoff led the Chargers
with four goals each, and LeGoff added an assist as well.
Natalie Lieberman led both teams points, notching three goals and
three assists for a six-point game. Charger goalkeeper
Maureen Spellman made 10 saves in the game and
Katherine O'Hara (Norwell, Mass.) turned
aside six shots.
The Hawks return home on Tuesday, April 27, to host the Purple
Knights of Saint Michael's College in a Northeast-10
competition beginning at 4:00 pm.
