Block's pair sends Wheaton past Salve Regina, 2-1 in season opener

August 29, 2008

NEWPORT, RI- Junior Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) notched her first career multi-goal game, scoring twice to push the Wheaton College field hockey team past Salve Regina University, 2-1 on Friday at Lawrence Avenue Field during each team's season opener.

The contest marked the sixth consecutive season the Lyons began the campaign with a game decided by one goal, and the fifth straight against the Seahawks, but it was the first of the six that did not extend into overtime.

All of the scoring came during a frenzied 1:26 span of the opening stanza, as Block tallied twice in 46 seconds near the conclusion of the half to initially make it 2-0. Her first marker came 31:25 into the contest off a penalty corner feed from sophomore Ashley English (Watertown, MA/Watertown), who collected an assist for her first collegiate point, before Block netted the next goal at 32:11 thanks to senior Alisa Ardito's (Branford, CT/Branford) helper. It was Ardito's 23rd career assist, leaving her three shy of the program mark.

Salve Regina countered at 32:51 when junior Samantha Wolfe (East Bridgewater, MA/East Bridgewater) converted sophomore Lindsey Burt's (Hopedale, MA/Hopedale) pass.

After being outshot, 9-8 during the first half, the Lyons controlled the tempo by racking up 13 of the 16 shots taken in the second period and notching a 7-3 advantage in penalty corners, but Salve Regina junior keeper Devin Eppley (Darien, CT/Darien) made nine stops and was helped by two defensive saves, and the score remained unchanged.

Junior Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) notched her first collegiate victory between the pipes for Wheaton, turning aside six shots. Eppley finished with 14 stops. The Lyons outshot the hosts, 21-12 while tallying a 12-8 edge in penalty corners.

The Lyons continue their season-opening three-game road swing on Tuesday by traveling to Simmons College for a 7:00 p.m. contest.

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