NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Connecticut College women's lacrosse bounced back from a season opening defeat, to take down host Smith College 15-4 on Wednesday night from Smith Turf Field. With the win, Conn improves to 1-1, while Smith falls to 2-3.

The teams traded possessions in the opening three minutes, before Smith (2-3) tallied the first goal on a marker from Caroline Sanders at 11:23. Conn (1-1) responded at 8:12 when Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) notched her first goal of the season. Coughlin recorded her second goal, before completing her hat trick a minute later. Both defenses clamped down over the final six and a half minutes of the opening frame, as the Camels led 3-1.

The defenses continued their strong play to open the second quarter, before Janet Howard (Madison, Conn.) found the back of the net at 8:56. Over the final six minutes of the quarter, the Camels tallied for more goals, with Howard notching a second, Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.), Elizabeth Gill (Hingham, Mass.), and Coughlin finding the net. After trailing 1-0, Conn ended the first half on an 8-0 run, to lead 8-1 at the break.

The Camels pushed the lead to 9-1 early in the third quarter, as Coughlin connected with Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) at 13:57. The Pioneers finally ended the Conn run, on Sanders' second goal of the game at 12:21. Greta Panke (Milldale, Conn.) converted on a free-position shot at 11:03, before feeding Caroline Bruce (Acton, Mass.) at 10:27 to extend the lead to 11-2. Smith cut the deficit to 11-3, before the Camels ended the third quarter with three more goals, as Bruce, Ava Gershon (Cranston, R.I.), and Julianna Ingrassia (Garden City, N.Y.) gave Conn a 14-3 advantage heading to the fourth.

The game slowed down in the final quarter, as each team scored just one goal. Downey notched her second goal of the night at 7:18, before the Pioneers' Kyra Hawk scored at 3:56. The final four minutes ran out, as Conn came away with the 15-4 win.

Conn outshot Smith 32-14, while controlling 14 of 23 draws.

Viollette Nidds (Ridgewood, N.J.) got the start in goal, finishing with five saves in just under 54 minutes of action, before being replaced by Ava Virga (Watertown, N.Y.) who made four saves in the final 6:19. Coughlin paced the Camels with five points on four goals and one assist, while Bruce, Downey, Howard, and Panke all added two points. Conn picked 13 ground balls, with Downey picking up three, while Caroline Barbieri (Longmeadow, Mass.) and Coughlin picked up two. The Camels caused nine turnovers as a team, with Nidds leading the way causing two, while also controlling 14 draws, with Panke and Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) both controlling four.

Shannon Houtenville got the start in goal making 10 saves in the first half, before Brooke Testa played the second half making three saves. Hawk and Sanders both tallied to goals to lead the Pioneers on offense.

Conn stays out on the road, as the Camels travel to Waterville, Maine to take on No. 7/11 Colby College on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.