SPRINGFIELD, Mass., November 12, 2006 – The top-seeded Smith College women’s soccer team defeated No. 2 Springfield College, 4-0, this afternoon in rainy Northampton, Massachusetts, to win the 2006 ECAC Division III Women’s Soccer Championship match. It was Smith’s first ECAC title in women’s soccer since 1987, and the third in its history.

With the win, Smith ended its season at 14-7-1, while Springfield finished up at 14-6.

The Pioneers scored the first two goals of the game fairly early and within 20 seconds of each other at the 5:33 and 5:53 marks. First-year Dalyn Houser scored her sixth game-winning goal of the season on a shot to the upper right-hand corner. That was followed by a goal by Brittoni Famous, who found herself one-on-one with the keeper.

Ten minutes later, Hailey Bird passed the ball again to Houser who fired a shot that rebounded off the hands of junior goalkeeper Sue Jenney (Agawam, Mass.) and rolled into the net, giving Smith a 3-0 lead at the half.

The last goal of the game was tallied by Famous at 67:04. Lauren Bechtel picked up her 10th win and seventh shutout of the year in goal for the Pioneers, while Jenney took the loss for the Pride. It was Smith’s third victory of the season over Springfield without a loss.

published: 11/12/2006