The Hartford Women’s lacrosse team went out to Beverly Massachusetts for a date with Endicott college. The Hawks had earned themselves a Conference of New England (CNE) championship bid after being named to the playoffs as the #3 seed. Opening their first ever playoff appearance since the team formed in 2018, and reformed in 2023.
The season record ends at 13-6 with a 7-2 conference record. Going into the CNE championship game the Hawks were on fire with a nine game winning streak, including outscoring opponents, 166-81 during the streak.
The Hawks took on the Endicott Gulls for the second time this season with their first game not going very well, the Hawks would lose the game, 18-9, with star Madison Olmstead and senior Meghan Smith leading the charge. The Hawks hoped that their fate could be different in a second bout with the Gulls but that would prove to be wrong. The Hawks lost the game 19-25. Despite the great offense that the Hawks would put up the Gulls were just better. With the loss being credited to keeper Mandi Rivard there is question as to why she was the starter.
On Tuesday the Hawks took on the #2 seed Roger Williams University Hawks where Mandi Rivard struggled, allowing seven goals in 10 minutes of play was bad and the Hawks looked to Sophomore Emily Campbell to try to close down the goal against the Roger Williams Hawks and she did just that, playing 50 of the 60 minutes in the game, allowing seven goals through 3 quarters. Which would show to be the key factor between a win to meet with Endicott in the CNE championship game or going home early.
Looking at the game today against the Endicott Gulls, the Hawks started Mandi Rivard in goal where she would allow 21 goals on only ten saves. Despite the efforts on Rivard the Gulls defense was too much to handle for the offense. Star Madison Olmstead struggled once again against the Gulls only putting up three points with two goals and one assist while Freshman Kate Zonin would put up three goals of her own. While the senior captain Meghan Smith played her heart out, notching 11 points with nine goals and two assists. Smith put up a career year in her final season playing as a Hawk.
Meghan Smith ends her Hartford women’s lacrosse career with 123 goals, 34 assists and 157 points. It is safe to say her offense will be missed next year by the Hawks. However the team will be losing another senior in Madison Carangelo, who was mainly a defensive player, during her time with the Hawks she leaves with one assist and one point to go with 14 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. Her defense will also be missed for the Hawks.
Looking towards the future there will be questions in the midfield, Madison Olmstead has been amazing through two seasons with the Hawks but needs support up front. She had a lot of support from teammate Meghan Smith who picked up Olmstead when she started the season injured. Both Smith and Olmstead end the season with over 100 points with the next closest being Laurel McIntosh with 37. It is safe to say both Olmstead and Smith were a thorn in every teams side this season.
