NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (April 18, 2026) – Smith College scored the games first 11 goals on its way to a 15-8 victory over Emerson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's lacrosse contest this afternoon.
Sophomore Layna Fitzgerald led the Smith attack with five goals, including four in the first half as the Bears scored all 11 goals of the half. Senior Caroline Sanders and junior Kyra Hawk each contributed two goals and an assist for the Bears, with Sanders also collecting five draw controls, four ground balls and a caused turnover. First year Sofia Pascua tallied a pair of goals, while sophomore Jenna Paczkowski chipping in a goal and two assists.
Senior Brooke Testa made five saves in a shutout first half in goal for Smith. Senior Ellie Spotts made six first half saves in goal for Emerson, while classmate Lindsey Wettstein registered four second half stops.
Junior Ava DelliCompagni and sophomore Laina Gustafson each netted three goals for Emerson. DelliCompagni also collected two draw controls and two ground balls for the Lions.
Fitzgerald opened the scoring 67-seconds into the game and added her second and third on either side of the quarter break on her way to four first half goals to spark Smith to the 11-0 halftime lead. Hawk and Paczkowski each contributed a goal and assist for the Bears in the first half.
Emerson broke through with DelliCompagni's first of the afternoon 1:21 into the second half and then sandwiched Hawk's second of the afternoon with her second midway through the third quarter. Gustafson scored her first of the day with 5:20 to play in the frame to draw the Lions within nine, but Sanders and Fitzgerald restored the 11-goal cushion (14-3) heading into the final quarter.
Emerson would outscore Smith 5-1 in the final 15-minutes, with Gustafson netting a pair, but the first half surge would prove too much to overcome.
Up Next:
Emerson (4-12, 0-9 NEWMAC) closes out its 2026 season at Mount Holyoke College on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Smith (10-6, 6-3 NEWMAC) visits nationally ranked MIT for its regular season finale on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
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