Lyons have six-game win streak snapped during 4-2 loss to Springfield

October 14, 2006

SPRINGFIELD, MA- During a clash between the final two teams undefeated in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) field hockey play, Wheaton College saw its six-game winning streak snapped at the hands of nationally-ranked Springfield College, 4-2 on Saturday at Benedum Field.

The Lyons fell to 12-4 overall and 4-1 in the conference while slipping into a second-place tie with Wellesley College. Wheaton's six-game winning streak was one game short of tying the school record. Springfield, the two-time defending NEWMAC Tournament champion, is 16th in the most recent National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) national poll and improved to 11-3 and 6-0.

Springfield junior Brittany Veazie (Dexter, ME/Dexter Regional) tallied 14:20 into the contest, but Wheaton junior Lyndsie Ryalls (Branford, CT/Branford) knotted the score just 4:53 later, tallying off a direct corner. Classmate Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely) and sophomore Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) received assists. The teams headed to the locker room tied at one, as each team fired off eight shots during the half, while the Lyons held a slight 8-7 edge in penalty corners.

The Pride quickly worked to break the stalemate, as the hosts netted three goals during a 7:14 span early in the second half. Veazie tallied off sophomore Jane Kelleher's (Chatham, MA/Harwich) assist at 41:22 before Kelleher scored twice from junior Eileen Jenkins (Gorham, ME/Gorham) at both 46:10 and 48:36.

Wheaton's last-gasp comeback effort produced one goal, as sophomore Rachel Alfiero (Cape Elizabeth, ME/Cape Elizabeth) deposited her first collegiate tally with 3:59 remaining. Senior Rachel Sminkey (White River Junction, VT/Hartford) recorded the helper, moving her into a tie for 10th in career points (44) at Wheaton.

For the game, Springfield outshot Wheaton, 24-19, and held a 13-11 edge in corners. Senior Mary Catherine Boll (Columbus, IN/Miss Porter's School) notched 14 saves for the Lyons, while junior Emma Kaplan (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) had 12. Dimick became the seventh Lyon with 50 career points, while Ryalls moved into a tie with Alyssa Goodrich '98 for second at Wheaton with her 22nd career goal.

During a senior day contest on Tuesday, the Lyons host Wellesley at 4:00 p.m. in a pivotal NEWMAC contest. A victory would move Wheaton closer to its first top-four league finish since 1997, the same year it last hosted a conference tournament opening round game.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Wheaton (12-4, 4-1) 1 1 2
Springfield (11-3, 6-0) 1 3 4

1st Half: SC- Brittany Veazie (unassisted) 14:20; WC- Lyndsie Ryalls (Sara Dimick, Alisa Ardito) 19:13

2nd Half: SC- Veazie (Jane Kelleher) 41:22, Kelleher (Eileen Jenkins) 46:10, Kelleher (Jenkins) 48:36; WC- Rachel Alfiero (Rachel Sminkey) 66:01

Goalie Saves: WC- Mary Catherine Boll 14; SC- Emma Kaplan 12

Shots: WC- 19; SC- 24

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