Pair of early scores lifts Wheaton to 2-1 upset of 12th-ranked Springfield

October 13, 2007

NORTON, MA- Junior Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) and sophomore Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) scored in the first 12 minutes, and the Wheaton College field hockey team upset nationally-ranked Springfield College, 2-1 on Saturday at Clark Field. The Lyons, who are now 10-4 overall and 4-1 in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play, downed a team that won the last three league tournaments. Springfield, which is ranked 12th by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), fell to 12-3 and 4-2 while seeing its six-game winning streak end.

Wheaton had lost the past six series meetings, last defeating Springfield in 2002. The Lyons' last victory against the Pride in Norton came in 2001, and eight of the team's 13 all-time meetings have been decided by one goal. With an assist, senior Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely) is now within one of Maureen Reynolds' '88 career program record of 100 points.

Block put Wheaton on top 8:34 into the contest, sending a penalty-corner pass to Dimick before tipping home Dimick's blast for the game's first shot. The marker snapped the Pride's shutout streak at 155:36. Just 3:21 later, senior Kim Anson's (Washington, CT/Shepaug Valley) long hit skipped over a pair of Springfield sticks and found Ardito, who drove the second shot of the game home from the right wing.

With less than a minute remaining in the first half, Springfield sent two shots on net, both of which were turned aside by freshman keeper Cameron Abel (Windham, NH/Salem). The Pride also had a penalty corner with no time left at the end of the stanza go unanswered.

After the teams each had three shots in the opening half, Springfield controlled the second-period numbers with advantages of 11-4 in shots and 10-5 in penalty corners. Wheaton sophomore Andria Laroche (Skowhegan, ME/Skowhegan Area) made a defensive save in the 41st minute, but Springfield broke through soon after. Freshman Meagan Dobson's (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) cross through the circle to sophomore Morgan Rein (Mystic, CT/Stonington) was tipped to senior Eileen Jenkins (Gorham, ME/Gorham), who scored at 42:27.

Springfield continued to apply offensive pressure late, sending a pair of shots just wide with two minutes to go before Abel made saves on three straight shots with one minute left. The Pride's final opportunities came after time expired, as it ran three straight unsuccessful penalty corners, culminating with Wheaton senior Ashley Miller (East Bridgewater, MA/East Bridgewater) clearing the third out of harm's way.

Abel finished with nine saves, while Springfield senior Emma Kaplan (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) had three. The Pride finished with advantages of 14-7 in shots and 12-10 in corners.

The Lyons complete their regular season road slate with another critical NEWMAC test at Wellesley College on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. The Blue is currently tied for first in the league.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Springfield (12-3, 4-2) 0 1 1
Wheaton (10-4, 4-1) 2 0 2

1st Half: WC- Alex Block (Sara Dimick) 8:34, Alisa Ardito (Kim Anson) 11:55

2nd Half: SC- Eileen Jenkins (Morgan Rein) 42:27

Goalie Saves: WC- Cameron Abel 9; SC- Emma Kaplan 3

Shots: WC- 7; SC- 14

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