Wheaton holds off Amherst, 1-0 in battle of national powers

September 27, 2006

NORTON, MA- Junior Jenna Rabesa's (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth) 64th-minute tally decided a battle of national powers as the Wheaton College women's soccer team downed Amherst College, 1-0 to knock the Lord Jeffs from the ranks of the unbeaten on Wednesday afternoon at Mirrione Stadium. It marked the fourth consecutive season in which the Lyons took a regular season game from Amherst by a 1-0 final.

The Lyons, who are ranked 13th nationally and second in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), moved to 9-1 after winning their sixth straight. The Lord Jeffs, ranked 18th nationally and third regionally, fell to 5-1-1 after entering the game among 22 undefeated teams in Division III.

During a scoreless first half, Wheaton controlled the majority of opportunities, as junior Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross) missed over the crossbar from close range 12 minutes in before sophomore Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) and freshman Kathleen Carroll (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz Central) each shot wide from 20 yards out during the final 11 minutes.

Viscomi nearly gave the Lyons a lead during the 48th minute, but Amherst senior midfielder Lesley Pruzansky (Saratoga, CA/Menlo School) blocked Viscomi's shot while holding the close post. Viscomi cleared the crossbar during the 60th minute, but Wheaton cashed in for the game's lone tally at 63:37. Rabesa snuck a hard shot from the middle of the box under the crossbar to give the hosts the lead off assists from Konopka and freshman Rosie Levy (Torrance, CA/Chadwick School).

With 20 minutes to go, Amherst nearly drew even. Freshman Meg Murphy (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) motored up the right side into the Wheaton defense to catch up with a long ball, but she mishit a shot that rolled into the box and toward the far side of the cage. The opportunity produced the Lord Jeffs' lone second-half shot.

Wheaton finished with a 16-5 advantage in shots, including an 8-1 edge in the second half. Its 7-1 corner kick advantage was boosted by a 5-0 second-half showing. In goal, junior Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) made one save during the first half before freshman Abby Isaac (Larchmont, NY/Proctor Academy) picked up her second win with a scoreless second stanza. Senior Piper Crowell (San Rafael, CA/Marin Academy) recorded one stop for Amherst.

Rabesa's goal moved her into a tie for ninth in program history with 23 for her career, while Konopka's assist pushed her into a three-way tie for 10th in helpers with Rabesa and one other.

The Lyons continue New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Saturday at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at 1:00 p.m.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Amherst (5-1-1) 0 0 0
Wheaton (9-1) 0 1 1

2nd Half: WC- Jenna Rabesa (Rosie Levy, Lauren Konopka) 63:37

Goalie Saves: WC- Stacey Kronenberg (45:00) 1, Abby Isaac (45:00) 0; AC- Piper Crowell 1

Shots: WC- 16; AC- 5

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