Wheaton nabs 10th field hockey win for first time since 1997

September 30, 2006

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College field hockey team reached the 10-win plateau for the first time since 1997 behind a 3-1 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over Smith College on Saturday at Clark Field during Homecoming weekend.

The Lyons continued their best start since 1991 by pushing their record to 10-3 and moving to 2-0 in the conference for the first time since 1995. In winning its fourth straight game, the Blue and White notched at least three goals in a contest for the fifth time. The Pioneers fell to 3-6 and 0-2.

During the game, junior Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely) recorded a goal and an assist while setting the single-season school mark for helpers (8) and becoming the first Lyon to record 30 points in one season since Maureen Reynolds '88 in 1987. Dimick also joined Wheaton's career top 10 in points, tying for ninth (44).

Smith got on the board first with 11:55 remaining in the opening half. Wheaton senior keeper Mary Catherine Boll (Columbus, IN/Miss Porter's School) knocked down Pioneer senior Linnea Michaels' (Huntington Station, NY/Huntington) tip, but freshman Mary Byars (Austin, TX/Saint Stephen's Episcopal) corralled the rebound and hit the back of the cage.

Just before halftime, the Lyons tallied twice in a 2:59 span to take the lead for good. At 5:33, sophomore Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) sent a pass through Smith freshman keeper Margaret Winter (Purchase, NY/Hackley School) to senior Rachel Sminkey (White River Junction, VT/Hartford), who cashed in for her 11th goal on an empty cage. At 2:34, Dimick took freshman Cassie Abel's (Windham, NH/Salem) pass on the endline, juked through the defense and beat Winter from a bad angle. It was Dimick's 11th goal of the season.

Wheaton outshot the Pioneers, 10-0 in the second half and iced the game late in regulation. Ardito tipped in her second goal of the fall off Dimick's shot from just inside the circle with 3:56 to go.

The Lyons finished the game with advantages of 18-3 in shots and 10-3 in penalty corners, while Boll turned aside two shots. Winter made six stops.

Wheaton continues its NEWMAC schedule on Tuesday against Babson College, the 2005 regular season co-champion and an NCAA Tournament qualifier. The Lyons host the Beavers at 4:00 p.m.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Smith (3-6, 0-2) 1 0 1
Wheaton (10-3, 2-0) 2 1 3

1st Half: SC- Mary Byars (unassisted) 23:05; WC- Rachel Sminkey (Alisa Ardito) 29:27, Sara Dimick (Cassie Abel) 32:26

2nd Half: WC- Ardito (Dimick) 66:04

Goalie Saves: WC- Mary Catherine Boll 2; SC- Margaret Winter 6

Shots: WC- 18; SC- 3

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