Athletics > Weekly Lyon > September 10, 2007
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Field Hockey (3-2) Drops Final Two Contests of Week After Second Straight 3-0 Start
The Wheaton College field hockey team began a season 3-0 for the second straight year before dropping a pair of contests to finish the week 1-2, with all games occurring in a four-day stretch. The Lyons knocked off visiting Simmons College, 2-0 on Thursday before falling by that score at Endicott College on Saturday. Against nationally-ranked Bowdoin College on Sunday, Wheaton lost, 5-0 at home.
Wheaton outshot Simmons, 22-3 and held a 13-2 advantage in penalty corners. Junior Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) converted off senior Sara Dimick's (Cumberland, ME/Greely) assist 8:43 before halftime for the eventual game-winner, while sophomore Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) added an insurance tally with 7:32 left in the game. Freshman Cameron Abel (Windham, NH/Salem) notched her first collegiate shutout behind a two-save performance.
In a rematch of the 2006 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament title game, the Lyons were blanked at Endicott, ending a 29-game scoring streak that dated back to October 2005. The Gulls tallied twice during a 44-second span late in the opening half, and Wheaton was unable to counter despite having nine more shots and 13 more corners for the game. Abel made five saves.
Against third-ranked Bowdoin, the Lyons were limited to four shots. Abel made seven saves in 49 minutes, sophomore Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) followed with two stops in 10 minutes of relief, and junior Jackie Riccio (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) went untested in the final 11 minutes in net.
Dimick is second in program history in career points (70) and goals (27) and is tied for fourth in assists (16), while senior Lyndsie Ryalls (Branford, CT/Branford) is third in each points (65), goals (24) and helpers (17). Ardito moved into eighth in points (48) and is tied for fourth in assists (16).
Men's Soccer (3-1-1) Posts Undefeated Week, Goes 2-0-1 in First Three Home Games
The Wheaton College men's soccer team, ranked seventh in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), went 2-0-1 during a trio of home games last week. The Lyons first overpowered Bridgewater State College, 7-2 on Wednesday before tying Keene State College, 1-1 in double overtime on Saturday. On Sunday, the Lyons rallied past Salve Regina University, 2-1.
Against Bridgewater State, the Lyons matched their highest goal total since September 28, 2004, as seven different players found the back of the net. Senior Dan Chong (Miami, FL/Coral Reef) had a goal and two assists, while freshmen Josh Solomon (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxboro Regional) and David Winrow (South Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) had a goal and an assist each. Senior Reed Hollett (Bedford, Nova Scotia/Halifax Grammar School), sophomore Adam Sussman (Swampscott, MA/Swampscott) and freshmen Yuri Moreira (Marlboro, MA/Northfield Mount Hermon School) and Jake Wagner (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) also scored, while freshman Eric Driscoll (Lexington, MA/Lexington) had two assists. Solomon, Wagner and Winrow each deposited their first collegiate goals. Freshman goalkeeper Chris Smart (Brookfield, CT/Brookfield) earned the win by making one first-half save, while classmate Stefan Viragh (Columbus, OH/Wellington School) stopped three shots in his collegiate debut during the second frame.
Freshman David Ferriero (Medway, MA/Medway) flicked a Driscoll free kick off his head and in with 19:05 left in regulation against Keene State, but the Owls countered with 1:42 to go in the half, and the teams played to a draw. The tally was Ferriero's first in college. Smart made eight saves.
Sophomore Tyler Ostholthoff's (Hopkinton, NH/Hopkinton) first career goal in the 68th minute pushed Wheaton past Salve Regina. After the Seahawks went ahead 1:59 into the second half, Solomon countered 3:10 later off assists from Moreira and freshman Kyle Sye (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxboro Regional). Ostholthoff converted a Chong assist for the winner, while Smart made three saves.
Women's Soccer (3-0-1) Goes 1-0-1 Against a Pair of 2006 NCAA Tournament Teams
The Wheaton College women's soccer team, which is ranked 21st nationally and fourth in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), went 1-0-1 last week against a pair of teams that qualified for last season's NCAA Tournament. The Lyons downed visiting Endicott College, 2-0 on Wednesday before playing to a scoreless double-overtime draw at Western Connecticut State University on Saturday. Wheaton now has a 19-game regular season unbeaten streak.
Freshman Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Loomis Chaffee School) pushed her goal total to five on the season by tallying both of Wheaton's markers against Endicott, which was ranked fifth in New England. Alvarez scored the winner in the 66th minute before scoring again in the 71st minute off of senior Jenna Rabesa's (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth) assist. The Lyons outshot the Gulls, 34-3. Senior Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline) made one save during the second half to corral the win after classmate Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) stopped one first-half shot.
At Western Connecticut State, which is ranked 17th nationally and third regionally, the Lyons held advantages of 25-12 in shots and 9-0 in corner kicks, but neither team could break through during 110 minutes. Cockburn made two saves, while Kronenberg recorded the decision with two stops in relief.
Head coach Luis Reis enters this coming week with 199 career victories, as he looks to become the 25th coach in Division III women's soccer history to reach 200. Rabesa is now tied with classmate Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross) for seventh at Wheaton in career assists (28) while remaining seventh in points (82) and eighth in goals (27). Konopka is fifth in points (108) and sixth in goals (40), while Kronenberg is third in career victories (47).
Men's Tennis (0-0) Begins Fall Campaign at Grass Court Doubles Tournament
The Wheaton College men's tennis team kicked off its fall slate by placing fifth among seven teams on Saturday at the Grass Court Doubles Tournament in Narragansett, Rhode Island. The Lyons collected four points, narrowly finishing behind College of the Holy Cross (5) and Stonehill College (6).
The top performance turned in by a Wheaton tandem came in the second flight, where junior Nii Manfoi Davies (Town & Country, MO/The Principia) and sophomore Kyle Hudgins (Uxbridge, MA/Uxbridge) won the consolation final. After falling in the first round, Davies and Hudgins downed a pair from United States Coast Guard Academy, 8-5 in the semifinal round of the consolation bracket. In the consolation final, Wheaton's tandem defeated a Salve Regina duo, 8-6. In the third doubles flight, senior captain Thomas Fearon (Cambridge, United Kingdom/Cushing Academy) and freshman Cullen Garrity (Middletown, MD/Saint James School) knocked off a team from Johnson & Wales University, 8-2 before coming up short in the second round.
Women's Tennis (5-0, 1-0) Wins Trio of Matches, Including NEWMAC Opener
The Wheaton College women's tennis team continued its perfect start with a trio of wins last week, including one in its New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener. The Lyons first downed Gordon College, 9-0 on Labor Day before also blanking Clark University on Saturday. A 6-3 win at Union College completed the week, as the Blue and White extended its winning streak to nine matches dating back to last spring, its longest since a 10-match run in the fall of 1999.
Against visiting Gordon, freshmen Sarah Geocaris (Newport Beach, CA/Sage Hills School) and Katherine Teague (Manchester, NH/Central) shut out the Fighting Scots in the first doubles slot. Senior captain Maya Milic-Strkalj (Philadelphia, PA/Friends' Central School) and sophomore Katherine Knies (Purdys, NY/North Salem) won at two, while the freshman tandem of Chelsea Cordes (Jamestown, RI/North Kingstown) and Ellen Van Faasen (Manchester, MA/Manchester Essex Regional) was victorious at number three. Wheaton's singles players combined to drop only eight games, as all six Lyons swept through their matches. Knies, Milic-Strkalj and Teague did not drop a game, while Cordes, Geocaris and Van Faasen each won.
At Clark, the Lyons' doubles teams dropped four total games. Geocaris and Teague won at number one, Knies and Milic-Strkalj triumphed in the second spot, while Cordes and Van Faasen were victorious in the third position. Teague blanked her first singles opponent, while Cordes, Geocaris, Knies, Milic-Strkalj and Van Faasen also each won in straight sets.
At Union, Geocaris and Teague won at top doubles, as the Lyons trailed by a 2-1 count entering singles play before winning five of six matches. Cordes, Milic-Strkalj, Teague and Van Faasen each won in straight sets, while Geocaris rallied from a one-set deficit to win in a super tiebreaker.
Through five matches, Wheaton's players have a cumulative 28-2 singles mark and a 13-2 doubles record. Teague is 5-0 at the top spot while yielding only 10 games in sweeping each of her five opponents. Geocaris is 5-0 in the second slot, and she and Teague have combined to lose just seven games while winning all five of their doubles matches. Milic-Strkalj and Van Faasen are also 5-0 in singles.
Women's Volleyball (7-1) Wins All Three Matches of Week, Off to Best Start Since 1991
The Wheaton College women's volleyball team won all three of its matches last week, improving to 7-1 for the first time since the 1991 season and extending its winning streak to four, the Lyons' longest since October 2003. Each of the wins came during a three-day stretch. The Blue and White blanked host Salve Regina University, 3-0 (30-28, 30-24, 30-13) on Thursday before winning twice on Saturday at Pine Manor College. Wheaton first held on against Eastern Nazarene College, 3-2 (28-30, 30-19, 30-24, 28-30, 15-11) before downing the host Gators, 3-0 (30-27, 30-28, 30-28).
Against Salve Regina, freshman Sam Andreacchi (Burlingame, CA/Pinewood School) made a memorable college debut, returning from injury to record 12 kills and 13 digs. Classmate Natasha von Sonn (Burbank, CA/Burbank) notched 13 kills and eight digs, and sophomore Lauren Kraus (Westboro, MA/Westboro) accounted for seven kills. Freshman Becca Rose (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) finished with eight digs, 30 assists and four service aces, while classmate Kristen Hunt (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) added 12 digs.
In a five-game win against Eastern Nazarene, Kraus turned in 13 kills and 10 blocks, junior Liana Merrill (Northwood, NH/Coe-Brown Northwood Academy) had 10 kills, and von Sonn posted eight kills and 12 digs. Andreacchi finished with seven kills and 14 digs, Hunt was credited with team highs of 22 digs and four service aces, while Rose notched 13 digs, 38 assists and a trio of aces.
Against Pine Manor, Andreacchi and von Sonn paced the offense with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Kraus added eight kills and three blocks, junior Caitlin Farr (Yarmouth, MA/Dennis-Yarmouth Regional) chipped in with seven kills, and Rose had 27 assists and four aces. Hunt accounted for 17 digs, while freshman Jill Boucher (Riverside, RI/East Providence) distributed 13 assists.
Men's and Women's Cross Country Open Seasons at Amherst Invitational
The Wheaton College men's and women's cross country teams opened their seasons at the Amherst College Invitational on Saturday, as the Lyon women placed third and the men were seventh. Eight schools sent teams, as the fields were mainly comprised of Division II squads.
Juniors Amanda Rawson (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) and Lauren Reddy (Walnut Creek, CA/Carondelet) placed ninth and 11th, respectively, to pace the women, while sophomore Katie Pratt (Litchfield, CT/Litchfield) was 28th. Freshman Erin Jaske (Highlands Ranch, CO/Rock Canyon) finished 39th and sophomore Sarah Brand (Cincinnati, OH/Seven Hills School) was 41st in her first race. On the men's side, freshman Nick Kacher (Waltham, MA/Waltham) came in 36th, followed by classmates Natan Levy (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Pine Crest School) in 48th, Brandon Waltz (South Thomaston, ME/Rockland District) in 50th and Colin Fahey (Waltham, MA/Weston) in 58th.
This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 9/10/07.
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Women's Soccer: Hough's tally sends Wheaton past Emmanuel, Leddy notches third shutout (more)
Women's Tennis: Geocaris and Teague draw weekly tennis honors from NEWMAC (more)