Women's soccer earns sixth straight NCAA Tournament berth, Lyons set to host Worcester State in first round match

November 7, 2005

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College women's soccer team has qualified for its sixth consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament, as the Lyons will oppose Worcester State College on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. while hosting a four-team regional at Mirrione Stadium. Wheaton, which is ranked 18th nationally and third in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), received one of 19 at-large bids for the tournament after tying Springfield College, 1-1 in double overtime in Sunday's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament title game before falling, 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout that determined the league champion and automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.

Worcester State went 13-3-1 this season while winning the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular season and tournament titles. The Lyons and Lancers have met twice before, with Wheaton winning in 1998 and 1999. In Saturday's other first round game at 1:30 p.m., Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) champion Endicott College squares off with Western Connecticut State University, which received an at-large bid out of the Little East Conference (LEC). The winners of Saturday's contests play Sunday at 1:00 p.m., with the victor advancing to the NCAA Sectionals the following weekend.

Since beginning the season 4-4, Wheaton enters the NCAA Tournament unbeaten in its last 14 games, tied for the fifth-longest streak in the program's 27-year history. The 16-4-2 Lyons won their seventh consecutive NEWMAC regular season title before going 2-0-1 in the conference tournament and advancing to their seventh straight league championship game. Wheaton, the top seed and host during the NEWMAC Tournament, defeated Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), 5-0 in the first round before downing Smith College, 4-0 in the semifinals.

In nine years at Wheaton, head coach Luis Reis has compiled an overall mark of 173-27-6 (.854), placing him among the nation's elite for highest winning percentage among active women's soccer coaches in Division III. Wheaton holds an 8-5-1 all-time record during the NCAA Tournament, including 4-3 at home. Wheaton has been extremely difficult to beat at Mirrione Stadium during Reis' tenure, as the Lyons have gone 94-6-3 at home since October 1997. This season marks the fourth time in five years Wheaton will host an NCAA Tournament game. The Lyons hold a 68-15 scoring advantage this fall while averaging 3.09 goals and yielding 0.68 markers. Wheaton has posted 15 shutouts this season and has outscored opponents, 59-5 during the last 1,509:22 over a 17-game stretch.

Four different Lyons have at least 25 points, and each of Wheaton's top seven scorers is an underclassman. The Blue and White's balanced scoring is led by sophomore Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross), who paces the conference with 16 goals and 41 points. Classmate Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth) has 28 points and a league-high tying 10 assists, while sophomores Ashley Furr (Chicopee, MA/Cathedral) and Julie McLane (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) each have 26 points.

Freshman Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) controls the midfield with 10 assists, while senior Teresa LeBel (Middleton, MA/Northfield Mount Hermon) and sophomore Erin Davis (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) each have six helpers. Sophomore keeper Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) anchors the Lyon defense with a 0.69 goals against average and 10 shutouts.

2005 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament Bracket

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