Sminkey posts first career game-winner as Wheaton edges Simmons, 2-1 in overtime

September 7, 2006

BOSTON, MA- Senior Rachel Sminkey (White River Junction, VT/Hartford) continued her offensive ways Thursday night, posting the first game-winning goal of her career to lift the Wheaton College field hockey team to a 2-1 overtime victory over host Simmons College.

Avenging last season's 2-1 overtime setback to the Sharks, the Lyons have collected three straight wins to open the season for the first time since 2001. Simmons opened its 2006 campaign this evening.

Winning its second extra-session contest of the young season, Wheaton trailed in the opening half for the first time this year. With 8:28 to play in the first period, sophomore Katie Bonney (Auburn, ME/Edward Little) took a centering pass from junior Caitlin Murphy (Shrewsbury, MA/Notre Dame), who was streaking down the right side, and found the back of the net.

The Lyons knotted the score three minutes into the second half on a goal from junior Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely). Classmate Lyndsie Ryalls (Branford, CT/Branford) assisted on the play. The game went scoreless for over 43 minutes until Sminkey knocked home her conference-leading sixth goal of the season. Sminkey, who was named New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Player of the Week Monday, took advantage of a two-on-none break.

Dimick assisted on the play, upping her season totals to five goals and one assist. Senior keeper Mary Catherine Boll (Columbus, IN/Miss Porter's School), who came up with a huge save on a penalty stroke late in the first stanza, remained unbeaten after grabbing nine saves, while Shark freshman Becky Slatkin accounted for 10 stops in her collegiate debut. The Lyons held advantages of 24-16 in shots and 11-7 in penalty corners.

Wheaton was credited with four defensive saves on the night, including three in a second-half sequence with the game tied at one. Ryalls, senior Shea Clarke (Bellingham, MA/Bellingham), junior Kim Anson (Washington, CT/Shepaug Valley) and freshman Cassie Abel (Windham, NH/Salem) each had a save.

Wheaton opens its home slate Saturday against Endicott College at Clark Field. Set for a 1:00 p.m. start, Endicott marks the third Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent on the Lyons' schedule in four games.

SCORING: 1st 2nd OT Final
Wheaton (3-0) 0 1 1 2
Simmons (0-1) 1 0 0 1

1st Half: SC- Katie Bonney (Caitlin Murphy) 26:32

2nd Half: WC- Sara Dimick (Lyndsie Ryalls) 38:08

OT: WC- Rachel Sminkey (Dimick) 81:26

Goalie Saves: WC- Mary Catherine Boll 9; SC- Becky Slatkin 10

Shots: WC- 24; SC- 16

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