Wheaton completes regular season with 3-2 loss at hands of MIT

October 24, 2006

CAMBRIDGE, MA- The Wheaton College field hockey team narrowly missed setting the program's overall and conference victories marks by dropping its regular season finale, 3-2 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Jack Barry Field on Tuesday. With the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament field now set, the third-seeded Lyons have a chance at redemption when they host the sixth-seeded Engineers on Saturday in the first round on Wheaton's Clark Field at 1:00 p.m.

The Lyons are 13-6 overall and completed their NEWMAC slate with a 5-3 mark, placing third among the conference's nine schools, their best showing since 1997. The Engineers are 6-10 and 3-5. Wheaton and MIT have met five times in postseason play, with the Lyons earning both of their victories by 1-0 finals, including in their last meeting during the play-in round of the 1999 NEWMAC Tournament. Wheaton will host its initial first-round tournament game since 1997, when it was a member of the New England Women's Eight (NEW 8).

Despite being outshot, 9-3 in the first half, MIT tallied the lone goal, as senior Anna Ayuso (Street, MD/John Carroll School) assisted junior Lauren McCarthy (Birmingham, MI/Detroit County) at 18:22. The Lyons drew even during the 43rd minute, as freshman Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) tallied for the fifth time this season. Junior Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely) provided the assist during a penalty corner sequence, notching her 11th helper of the year and 43rd point.

However, MIT took the lead for good less than 10 minutes later, with junior Cristina Stefanescu (Needham, MA/Winsor) scoring at 51:39. Senior Amanda Hunter (Cornwall, CT/Choate Rosemary Hall) gave the Engineers a 3-1 lead off an Ayuso assist at 61:14 before the visitors answered with their final marker 1:32 later, as sophomore Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) corralled a rebound of Dimick's shot for her fourth goal of the season.

Wheaton held advantages of 17-9 in shots and 10-0 in penalty corners, while senior Mary Catherine Boll (Columbus, IN/Miss Porter's School) made five saves. Junior Alexa Herman (Suffern, NY/Suffern) turned aside eight shots for the Engineers.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Wheaton (13-6, 5-3) 0 2 2
MIT (6-10, 3-5) 1 2 3

1st Half: MIT- Lauren McCarthy (Anna Ayuso) 18:22

2nd Half: WC- Alex Block (Sara Dimick) 42:36; MIT- Cristina Stefanescu (unassisted) 51:39, Amanda Hunter (Ayuso) 61:14; WC- Alisa Ardito (unassisted) 62:46

Goalie Saves: WC- Mary Catherine Boll 5; MIT- Alexa Herman 8

Shots: WC- 17; MIT- 9

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