Trailblazer women tripped up at Smith 3-1

Courtesy of Smith College Sports Information

NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Jordan Houston netted a brace and Jamie Cyr scored her first collegiate goal as the Smith College soccer team opened the 2013 season with a 3-1 win over the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Monday. 

Smith won their season opener for the third straight season, while MCLA falls to 1-1 with their first defeat of the campaign.

The Pioneers were nearly ahead inside the opening 30 seconds, as Emily Smith fired a chance right at MCLA keeper Danielle Heinsohn, and Lily Eriksen fired wide in the second minute.   Smith continued to pour on the pressure, as Emily Smith planted a header wide, and Eriksen, Jenna BiCierro, and Innis Hitt forced Heinsohn into saves.

It was the Blazers who would eventually break the deadlock in the 13th minute, as Jen Ferrari's cross-turn-shot slipped through the hands of Smith goalie Alanna Lynch for a 1-0 lead, but Smith was level within four minutes.  Shannon Saywell headed down a corner kick from Innis Hitt in the 17th minute, and Houston was on hand to prod the ball home from close range.

Smith took the lead just before halftime.  BiCierro threaded a perfect throughball to Cyr, who had all the time she needed to roll the ball past Heinsohn for a 2-1 lead in the 42nd minute.  

The Pioneers wrapped up the win shortly into the second half.  Houston dispossed a MCLA player, and burst past two defenders before curling a solo effort past Heinsohn for the final margin.  Smith nearly had a fourth in the 65th minute, as Allie Rooney cracked a shot off the left post.

Lynch, meanwhile, kept MCLA at bay with two sprawling saves, keeping out Natalie Caney in the 61st and 88th minutes.  The first year stopper finished with three saves in net, while Heinsohn made five stops for MCLA.

Smith will next be in action against Maine-Farmington, with a 2 p.m. kickoff scheduled for Saturday, September 7.  MCLA will travel to Albertus Magnus on September 7 for a 1 p.m. start.