Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Junior Marissa Vara (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) notched her fourth multi-goal game of the season as the Smith College field hockey team (4-9) extended their winning streak to three games with a 3-1 win over Westfield State University (6-6) Tuesday night at the Smith Turf Field.

First year Amanda Lavond (Campbell, Calif./Westmont) staked Smith to a 1-0 lead at the 3:53 mark with a goal off of a feed from fellow classmate Julia Hamilton (Williamstown, Mass./Deerfield Academy). For Lavond it marked her third marker of the season, while Hamilton now has a team-best four assists.

After a Westfield State goal tied up the contest some ten minutes later, junior Casey Rau (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) found Vara in front of the cage in the 18^th minute to put Smith ahead 2-1.

18 minutes into the second half Vara struck again. After Smith had a pair of shots turned away by the Westfield State defense following a penalty corner, Vara broke through for her second goal of the night to push the Pioneers margin to 3-1.

In the 66th minute, Smith appeared to add to their advantage, as sophomore Cate Eberman (Newton, Mass./Newton South) pushed a shot that looked as though it hit the back of the net and came out. However, both the Owls and referee conferred that it did not and play continued.

Junior goalkeeper Nora Demick (Watertown, Mass/Beaver Country Day) faced just three shots on frame and made a pair of saves to pick up her third straight win in net for the Pioneers. Alanah Melanson recorded five saves for the Owls.

Smith outshot Westfield State, 20-4, and put 10 of their attempts on goal.

The Pioneers travel to Cambridge, Mass. for their next match. Smith takes on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m.