Lyons snap losing streak against Wesleyan behind Dimick's late goal

September 27, 2006

MIDDLETOWN, CT- Junior Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely) scored with 1:08 remaining to send the Wheaton College field hockey team past Wesleyan University, 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon and help the Lyons snap a 10-game series losing streak. Wheaton is 9-3 and off to its best start since beginning the 1991 season 9-2-1, while the Cardinals fell to 2-3.

The Blue and White had last defeated Wesleyan on October 5, 1995 thanks to a 1-0 victory in Norton. Wheaton's last road victory against the Cardinals had been on October 4, 1988, a 2-0 triumph. The Lyons avenged a 9-1 loss in 2004 during their last visit to Middletown. Wheaton's nine wins also match its most during the past nine seasons and equal the most during head coach Rebecca Begley's seven years at the helm of the program.

During an evenly-played opening half, freshman Andria Laroche (Skowhegan, ME/Skowhegan Area) recorded a defensive save to avert early damage, but Wesleyan jumped on the board with 1:22 remaining on senior Cortney Tetrault's (Hatfield, MA/Phillips Academy) first tally of the season. The second half was controlled on paper by the Cardinals, who held advantages of 15-6 in shots and 12-3 in penalty corners, but the Lyons scored both of the stanza's goals. With 5:50 expired, senior Rachel Sminkey (White River Junction, VT/Hartford) tipped home a blast by classmate Shea Clarke (Bellingham, MA/Bellingham) for her 10th goal, and Wheaton depended on tight defense from thereon out. Freshman Cassie Abel (Windham, NH/Salem) made a defensive save in aid of senior keeper Mary Catherine Boll (Columbus, IN/Miss Porter's School), who recorded 10 saves in the half.

Late in regulation, Wheaton defused a string of Wesleyan penalty corners before making a quick transition to offense, as Dimick and sophomore Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) led a breakaway. After receiving an Ardito pass, Dimick drew freshman keeper Breen McDonald (Shaker Heights, OH/Hathaway Brown School) out of her cage before sliding a shot toward the net from 10 yards away that slowly trickled home for her third game-winning goal. It was the 10th goal for Dimick, who has had a hand in six of Wheaton's last seven game-winners.

Wesleyan collected edges of 26-13 in shots and 17-7 in corners, but Boll came up with 15 saves for the Lyons. McDonald finished with six stops. Dimick and Sminkey gave Wheaton its first pair of 10-goal scorers in program history, and Sminkey is now tied for 10th at Wheaton with 16 career tallies. Dimick's 27 points this fall are the third most in program annals and are the most since Maureen Reynolds '88 had 46 in 1987.

The Lyons look to record their first 10-win season since 1997 when they host New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Smith College on Saturday during Homecoming weekend. Wheaton downed the Pioneers, 6-2 at the Seven Sister Tournament on September 16.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Wheaton (9-3) 0 2 2
Wesleyan (2-3) 1 0 1

1st Half: WU- Cortney Tetrault (unassisted) 33:38

2nd Half: WC- Rachel Sminkey (Shea Clarke) 40:50, Sara Dimick (Alisa Ardito) 68:52

Goalie Saves: WC- Mary Catherine Boll 15; WU- Breen McDonald 6

Shots: WC- 13; WU- 26

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