Athletics > Weekly Lyon > 2004--05 > September 27, 2004
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Field Hockey (3-3, 0-1) Posts 1-1 Week, Defeats Bridgewater State and Falls to Springfield
The Wheaton College field hockey team completed it second consecutive week with a .500 mark, as the Lyons collected their first shutout of the season with a 2-0 non-conference victory over Bridgewater State College Tuesday at Clark Field before falling to Springfield College, 3-2 in the closing seconds of Saturday's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener.
Against Bridgewater State, the Lyons took a 1-0 edge 10 minutes into the opening half, when freshman Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely) knocked in her second goal of the season from close range. Classmate Lindsay Raymond (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme), who played a part in both of the Lyons' goals, was credited with the assist. In the second half, the game remained 1-0 as both teams were unable to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. With one minute remaining, Wheaton created some separation thanks to a breakaway. With three Lyon offensive players to BSC's one defender, freshman Lyndsie Ryalls (Branford, CT/Branford) delivered her pass to a wide open Raymond on the left side. Junior goalkeeper Emily Fiskio (Branford, CT/Branford) collected the shutout with five saves. Wheaton had 27 shots to the Bears' nine and held a 14-8 advantage in penalty corners.
At Springfield, Wheaton was just over three minutes away from stunning the nationally-ranked Pride, but the hosts managed to tally a pair of goals down the stretch to escape with the one-goal victory. Springfield scored the game-winning goal with just six seconds remaining to propel the hosts to victory. Following a scoreless first half, SC tallied the first score of the game at the 33:55 minute mark. The Lyons answered back with a goal from Ryalls, who finished a perfectly-executed corner from junior Leigh-Anne Cioffredi (Lebanon, NH/Lebanon). With 9:59 remaining, Dimick gave the visitors a 2-1 advantage, as she received a feed from Ryalls. Wheaton fended off Springfield for nearly seven minutes, but it wasn't enough as the Pride deadlocked the game at two goals apiece with 3:07 to go, setting up their late-game heroics. Fiskio faced 37 Pride shots and finished the game with 16 saves.
Men's Soccer (8-1-1, 2-0-0) Runs Unbeaten Streak to Five Games Following 2-0 Week
The Wheaton College men's soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to five games this week, as the regionally-ranked Lyons posted a pair of shutouts against Plymouth State University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Wheaton blanked Plymouth State, 2-0 Wednesday afternoon at Keefe Field in a non-conference game and then edged NEWMAC opponent WPI, 1-0 on Saturday in Worcester. Dating back to last season, the Lyons have only one loss in their last 25 games played.
Versus Plymouth State, senior forwards Andrew Hench (Marblehead, MA/Marblehead) and Matt Ristuccia (Newton, MA/Newton North) led Wheaton's offensive charge in the opening half. The Lyons built their 2-0 lead in the final five minutes of play, starting with a goal from Hench, who received a through ball from freshman Ian Walker (Marblehead, MA/IMG Academy). After getting to the ball just before the Plymouth goalkeeper, Hench used the outside of his right foot to push the ball into the right corner of the net. In the 45th minute, freshman Reed Hollett (Bedford, Nova Scotia/Halifax Grammer) made it a 2-0 game. Classmate Colin Igoe (Weston, MA/Weston) distributed his pass to Hollett on the right side of the box, where the first-year midfielder was able to direct his shot into the bottom left corner. Sophomore goalie Matt Pachniuk (Newtown, CT/Newtown) finished with one stop to collect the shutout, as the Lyons held a 17-4 shot advantage and 6-3 edge in corner kicks.
At WPI, senior co-captain Barry Finnerty (Milton, MA/Beaver Country Day) scored the game's lone goal in the 64th minute of play. After a scoreless first half and nearly 19 minutes of scoreless action into the second stanza, Finnerty posted his second goal of the season on a direct kick from just outside the box. Pachniuk and the Lyon defense then held off the Engineers the rest of the way, helping to preserve the Blue and White's sixth shutout of the season. Pachniuk completed the match with six saves, as Wheaton held a 14-8 advantage in shots, with corner kicks even at two apiece.
Pachniuk Produces NEWMAC Player-of-the-Week Selection
Pachniuk was selected NEWMAC Player of the Week for the week ending on Sunday, September 19. He only allowed one goal in 245 minutes in net, leading regionally-ranked Wheaton to a 2-0-1 record. Pachniuk posted three saves in a 4-1 victory over Springfield in Wheaton's NEWMAC opener and then registered a shutout following 110 minutes of scoreless play at 12th-ranked Williams College. Making seven saves against the Ephs including a penalty kick attempt in the first overtime, he helped the Lyons preserve the shutout. Earlier in the week, Pachniuk played a flawless first half in a 6-0 win over Worcester State College.
Women's Soccer (9-0-0, 1-0-0) Remains Perfect, Extends Conference Winning Streak
The Wheaton College women's soccer team, ranked second in the country and first in New England according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), extended its unbeaten streak to nine straight games and conference winning streak to an astounding 41 consecutive contests. The Lyons posted a 1-0 double-overtime victory at Eastern Connecticut State University on Wednesday before returning home Saturday to defeat Springfield College, 5-2 in the NEWMAC opener for both teams. Winners in 28 of its last 29 games, Wheaton has outscored its opponents, 30-2.
At Eastern Connecticut State, senior forward Beth Caromile (Warwick, RI/Pilgrim) scored on a cross from classmate Erin Brennan (Mesa, AZ/Xavier College Prep) with four seconds left in double overtime, as Wheaton emerged with the narrow victory. With time winding down, Wheaton won the ball near midfield and played it deep into the far corner. Brennan caught up to the ball by outracing an Eastern defender and looped a cross from the end line into the box, where Caromile got a foot on it to knock it past the Eastern goalkeeper. Junior goalkeeper Emily Lipsky (Whitestone, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) needed to make four saves, but her best one preserved the shutout with 40 seconds to play.
Against Springfield, Wheaton led 3-2 at the intermission and later tacked on a pair of second-half goals to complete the scoring. The hosts opened the scoring in the 10th minute, when Caromile converted a corner kick from senior Christy Schneider (Jonesboro, GA/Jonesboro) to put Wheaton in front 1-0. Springfield responded with a pair of quick goals, but the lead was short-lived as Wheaton freshman Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross) tied the game at the 25:00 minute mark. Konopka struck again in the 36th minute to give the Lyons a one-goal edge heading into the half and a lead that was not relinquished. Caromile was credited with the assist on the play. In the second half, Konopka set up the first of two Brennan goals at 63:30. Just four minutes later, Brennan launched her shot through the hands of the Pride goalie for extra insurance. Lipsky finished the game with three stops.
Rabesa Earns First NEWMAC Player-of-the-Week Honor
Women's soccer standout Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth) earned the first NEWMAC Player-of-the-Week honor in her young collegiate career. The award was selected for the week ending on Sunday, September 19. Rabesa posted two goals and one assist in leading the Lyons to a 2-0 week. She accounted for all of her scoring in a 6-0 victory at Framingham State College. In Wheaton's other game, the Lyons blanked regionally-ranked Tufts University, 2-0 at Mirrione Stadium.
Men's Tennis (1-0) Downs Colby College, 5-2 in First Dual Match of Season
The Wheaton College men's tennis team opened its dual match portion of the regular season in strong form Sunday afternoon, as the Lyons posted a 5-2 non-conference victory over Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
Wheaton took two of three doubles matches to pick up the early 1-0 lead, as junior Matt Sheers (Beacon, NY/Beacon) and sophomore Payum Payman (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington) led the way with an 8-3 decision in the top position. Sophomores Brian Danishevsky (Hamden, CT/Hamden Hall Country Day) and Raymour Radhakrishnan (Amherst, NH/Bridgton Academy) needed a tiebreaker to edge their opponents, 9-7 at number three. In singles play, Sheers recorded the lone straight-set victory in the second spot, while Payman and freshmen Sean Daly (Miami, FL/LaSalle) and Jared Karlebach (East Hampton, NY/East Hampton) needed three sets to emerge victorious in the first, fourth and sixth slots, respectively.
Women's Tennis (5-2, 1-2) Picks Up First NEWMAC Win, Competes at ITA Regional
The Wheaton College women's tennis team picked up its first NEWMAC victory of the season Tuesday afternoon against Clark University, as the Lyons downed the Cougars, 8-1 at Clark Tennis Courts. The Lyons then sent two of their sophomores to compete at this weekend's Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regional Tournament held at Williams College in Williamstown.
Against Clark, sophomores Ashley Kriwinsky (Munson, OH/Hawken) and Jamie Weiss (Chicago, IL/Francis Parker) and sophomore Darby McDermott (Briarcliff Manor, NY/Hackley School) and freshman Briana Jackson (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow) captured 8-0 decisions in the top two doubles positions, respectively. In third doubles, sophomore Jessica Otto (Atlantic, IA/Atlantic) and first-year Maya Milic-Strkalj (Philadelphia, PA/Friends Central School) completed the sweep with an 8-5 decision. In singles play, Wheaton's top four players were dominant, including a pair of 6-0, 6-0 triumphs from Kriwinsky and McDermott in the first and third positions, respectively. Weiss and Jackson posted 6-1, 6-0 scores in second and fourth singles. Sophomore Eden Gudonis (Manchester, MA/Governor Dummer Academy) won 6-4, 6-1 in the fifth slot.
Over the weekend, Kriwinsky and Weiss traveled to Williamstown to take on the best women's tennis players in the Northeast at Williams' Torrence M. Hunt '42 Tournament Courts. Kriwinsky, seeded fifth in the singles bracket, did away with Amherst College 6-1, 6-2 before defeating Bowdoin College 6-2, 6-2 to move on to the round of sixteen. Kriwinsky's run came to an end on Saturday, as she fell to Wellesley College 7-5, 4-6, 7-10 in a third-set super tiebreaker. Weiss also participated in singles action, dropping her opening round match of the tournament to Connecticut College 6-1, 6-0. On Saturday, Weiss posted a 1-1 mark in the consolation bracket, defeating MIT 6-3, 6-2 before being knocked out by Babson College 6-2, 6-0. In doubles action, Kriwinsky and Weiss sided to defeat RPI 8-2 in the opening round before falling to the host team's tandem by a count of 8-3.
Women's Volleyball (6-5, 2-1) Records 3-2 Week, Reaches Gold Medal Round at BSC
The Wheaton College women's volleyball team recorded a 3-2 week, including reaching the gold medal bracket of the Bridgewater State College Open. Wheaton opened the week by suffering its first NEWMAC loss of the season in a three-game set at MIT (14-30, 7-30, 24-30) in Cambridge, before posting a pair of wins at the BSC Open pool play on Friday with 3-1 victories over Connecticut College (30-27, 30-17, 24-30, 30-28) and Rivier College (30-26, 22-30, 30-22, 30-24). On Saturday, the Lyons dropped a three-game set to Gallaudet University (20-30, 25-30, 26-30) and four-game match to host Bridgewater State (21-30, 27-30, 30-27, 16-30).
At MIT, freshmen Chelsea Fleher (Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park) and Robin Child (Snowmass, CO/Basalt) were the offensive leaders with six and five kills, respectively. Sophomore Jade Lee (Eagle, ID/Eagle) led the way defensively with 21 digs, while junior setter Elizabeth Reagh (Seattle, WA/Seattle Lutheran) finished with 10 assists in the loss.
Versus Connecticut College, Child posted a .385 hitting percentage with six kills while scoring two service aces and six total blocks. Lee spearheaded the defense with 31 digs, while Reagh also contributed defensively by tallying 15 digs. Sophomore Alexis Liesman (Winchester, CA/West Valley) added 46 assists in the win.
Fleher led the Lyons to their second victory of the tournament against Rivier, registering one of two Wheaton double-double performances with team-high totals of 16 kills and 19 digs. Liesman notched the other with an impressive 46 assists and 10 digs. Sophomores Katie Dooley (Carpinteria, CA/Cate School) and Tonia Smith (White Plains, NY/Alexander Hamilton) added 11 kills apiece.
Against Gallaudet, Liesman accounted for 19 assists and six digs. Child paced the Lyons offensively with six kills, while Reagh tacked on a team-best seven digs. Versus Bridgewater State, Fleher notched her third double-double of the weekend with 13 kills and 16 digs, landing her All-Tournament team honors with 45 kills and 50 digs in four matches. Reagh and Smith turned in 12 and nine kills, respectively, while Liesman recorded 45 assists and 10 digs. Lee added 15 digs in the loss.
Cross Country Men Place Second at Harrier Classic, Women Take Fifth Overall
Senior All-America Stan Pyle (South Portland, ME/South Portland) continued his winning ways Saturday at MIT's Harrier Classic, as he emerged victorious for the second straight week by covering the 8,000-meter course in 25:37 at Franklin Park. The men finished as a runner-up for the second consecutive meet with 88 points among the 12 competing teams, while the women took fifth with 180 points in the 14-team field. Bates College was the top collegiate team for both the men and women.
Pyle outdistanced his next closest competitor by nearly 10 seconds, while Wheaton's next three runners finished within nine places of one another. Junior Ben Haber (Lincoln, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) placed 23rd in 28:27, while classmate Eric Richardson (East Walpole, MA/Bishop Feehan) and sophomore Matt Peirce (Lincoln, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) were 28th and 31st, respectively. Richardson finished the race in 28:34 and Peirce in 28:40.
The women were led by freshman Megan Brousseau (Attleboro, MA/Attleboro), who has turned in a pair of top 11 finishes in her first two collegiate meets, including Saturday's seventh-place standing with a time of 19:26. Senior co-captain Erin O'Brien (North Easton, MA/Oliver Ames) wasn't far behind in 12th in 19:38, while classmate Lindsay Whalen (Dedham, MA/Dedham) was the 27th runner to cross the 5,000-meter finish line with a time of 20:28.
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Women's Soccer: Hough's tally sends Wheaton past Emmanuel, Leddy notches third shutout (more)
Women's Tennis: Geocaris and Teague draw weekly tennis honors from NEWMAC (more)