Nationally-ranked Wheaton extends regular season unbeaten streak to 36

August 31, 2008

NORTON, MA- The nationally-ranked Wheaton College women's soccer team tied a three-year-old school record by extending its regular season unbeaten streak to 36 games behind a 4-0 win over Saint Joseph's College of Maine during the Lyons' home opener on Sunday at Mirrione Stadium.

In the teams' first meeting, Wheaton improved to 2-0 behind its second straight shutout, spoiling the Monks' season opener. The Lyons, who are ranked 12th by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), are now 16-0-1 in their last 17 home openers, last losing in 1991.

After two near misses during the first 17 minutes, sophomore Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols) put Wheaton on the board in the 24th minute with her second game-winner in as many contests this season. Junior Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) fired a shot off the crossbar from 25 yards out, and Alvarez pounced on the short rebound for her 25th career goal, putting her alone in ninth place in program history.

Senior Jessica Bramucci (Ludlow, MA/Wilbraham & Monson Academy) scored Wheaton's second and third markers, netting two goals on August 31 for the second consecutive season. At 29:26, her left-footed shot from 25 yards found the lower right corner, and sophomore Lauren Caney (West Springfield, MA/West Springfield) set up the next tally by carrying from the midfield into the box, where Bramucci redirected a pass beyond the diving goalkeeper.

During the 73rd minute, freshman Laurel MacPherson (Belmont, NH/Belmont) caught up with a long ball sent toward the right side of the box, only to have her bad-angle shot turned away by another diving attempt from junior keeper Katye Mayo (Fairfield, ME/Lawrence). Shortly thereafter, freshman Jessica Stuart (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) drove a long shot off the crossbar, but the ball bounced down and trickled in at 72:46 for Wheaton's fourth and final marker.

Wheaton finished with a 36-1 advantage in shots while tallying six of the game's seven corner kicks. Freshman Kasey Frasier (Bennington, VT/Mount Anthony Union) made one save between the pipes in earning the shutout and a victory during her first collegiate appearance, while Mayo played well in making 11 stops, keeping her team in the contest for most of the afternoon.

The Blue and White hits the road on Wednesday for a contest at 21st-ranked Worcester State College at 7:00 p.m. The Lyons, who have been to the past eight NCAA Tournaments, face a Lancer squad that has qualified for each of the last four NCAA Tournaments.

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