HARTFORD, Conn. — Senior Aly Janssen and junior Brooke Dibiase powered the Bantams with two goals apiece, lifting the Trinity College field hockey team to a 4–3 season-opening victory on the road against Smith College Wednesday evening. The Bantams start the year 1–0, while the Pioneers drop to 3–1.

Trinity grabbed a 2–1 lead after the first quarter. Just two minutes into play, Janssen opened the scoring with a quick strike for the Bantams. Smith's Annika Peterson answered five minutes later, capitalizing on a penalty corner to even the game at 1–1. After two more corners and a pair of blocked shots by Dibiase and Harper Simmons, Trinity broke through again as Dibiase converted to restore the lead heading into the second quarter.

The second frame was scoreless despite three Bantam penalty corners and a shot on goal from Dibiase, sending Trinity into halftime with a 2–1 advantage.

Dibiase struck again just one minute into the third quarter to push the lead to 3–1. Moments later, sophomore Claire Griffith fired two shots, one sailing wide and another stopped by Smith goalkeeper Iseul Park. Janssen added her second tally late in the period, giving Trinity a commanding 4–1 cushion heading into the final quarter.

Smith mounted a furious rally in the fourth, netting two goals in a two-minute span to cut the deficit to 4–3 with under six minutes remaining. Peterson nearly completed the comeback with another late attempt, but Trinity goalkeeper Hayley Gable came up with the save to preserve the win.

"Tonight was a great team effort. We were able to give a lot of players valuable game experience, and it was great to face a close, competitive matchup with Smith this early in the season as we prepare for conference play. We learned quite a bit about ourselves and are excited to continue growing on this trajectory." said head coach Jess Bergen.

Trinity held an 8–2 edge in penalty corners and outshot Smith 14–11. Gable played all 60 minutes in goal, recording five saves in the victory.