Springfield Women's Lacrosse Sails Past Smith, 12-4

Recap, photo courtesy of Springfield College

Springfield, Mass.  - Led by four goals from sophomore attack Shelby Corsano (Bourne, Mass.), the Springfield College women's lacrosse team posted a 12-4 win over Smith College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Wednesday evening at Stagg Field.

With the win, Springfield improved to 10-4 overall, with a conference record of 5-1, while the Pioneers fell to 4-10 on the year, with a mark of 0-6 in the league.

Springfield held a 13-4 advantage in draw controls, while also out-shooting Smith, 34-11.
Additionally, the Pride won the ground ball battle, picking up 32 compared to the Pioneers' 16, while also forcing 28 Smith turnovers.

Along with four goals from Corsano, Heather Raniolo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) and Bianca Raniolo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) each registered three points apiece, as Heather Raniolo had two goals and an assist, while Bianca Raniolo posted a goal and two helpers. In net, junior goalkeeper Gabby Anderson (Mahopac, N.Y.) notched seven saves in the win, and senior Bridget Thibodeau (Andover, Mass.) picked up a game-high eight ground balls.

For the Pioneers, Ray Silveria (Dunstable, Mass.), Emily Biggs (Florence, Mass.) and Julia Hamilton (Williamstown, Mass.) all recorded goals for the Pioneers, while Sarah Price (Hudson, Ohio) made 12 stops in the loss.

Springfield got off to an early start when Corsano converted a free-position chance just 3:55 into the contest, before Heather Raniolo fed a cutting Kristina Krull (Leicester, Mass.), who tucked a shot past Price with 22:35 to play in the first half to extend the Pride's lead to a pair.

After Heather Raniolo scored on a free-position opportunity, Corsano and Krull added their second goals of the game to push the Pride's lead to five, before Biggs scored with 4:31 left in the stanza to make it 5-1, Springfield, at the half.

The Pride came out and scored two quick goals to open the second period, one from Corsano and the other from Bianca Raniolo, before the Pioneers stayed within five following a free-position conversion from Hamilton.

From there, Kristen Steidler (Somers, Conn.) tallied back-to-back goals to make it 9-2, before Silveria scored her first of the contest, but was followed by goals from Heather Raniolo and Corsano to make it 12-3, Pride, with 3:04 to play.

Despite a goal with 42 seconds remaining from Silveria, Springfield was able to seal the eight-goal win.

Up next, Springfield will travel to Babson College for an important NEWMAC contest on Saturday at 1 p.m.