NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – First-half tallies by sophomore Hannah Sams and junior Anne Pearl were more than enough to complement an excellent defensive effort as the Union College women's soccer team defeated Smith College, 2-0, in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon.
 
Sams' first collegiate goal in the fourth minute was the only goal that Union (1-1) needed to pick up its first victory of the season, netting an unassisted score on the first shot attempt of the match from either side. After two more shots from the Garnet Chargers, Pearl doubled the Union lead at the 32:52 mark, connecting on a pass from junior Vanessa Jorgensen for her first goal of the young season.
 
Union added one more shot later in the frame and went into halftime with a two-goal advantage and a 5-0 edge in total shots.
 
The shots came more freely from both sides in the second half, with Smith (0-3) putting seven shots toward the net of second-half keeper Rachel Berliner. However, the junior stopped all three on-target attempts to preserve the shutout that she shared with sophomore Maya Koster, who tended goal for the opening 45 minutes.
 
Union finished the afternoon with an 11-7 edge in shots and held a 7-3 lead in on-target attempts, with Smith keepers Skylar Smith and Linnea Alvarado-Faulkner combining for five saves.
 
After a pair of matches on the road, Union will return home to College Park Field for its 2024 home opener on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Endicott College.