Weekly Lyon

Field Hockey (10-4, 4-1) Wins Twice, Including Upset of Nationally-Ranked Springfield

The Wheaton College field hockey team won twice at home in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play last week, first dropping Clark University, 6-1 on Tuesday before turning aside nationally-ranked Springfield College, 2-1 on Saturday. The Lyons moved into third place in the conference standings and visit co-leader Wellesley College on Tuesday.

Senior Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely) had two goals and an assist, while freshman Jessica Strock (Centerville, MA/Barnstable) tallied twice against Clark. Wheaton nabbed a 2-0 lead after fewer than five minutes had elapsed, as Dimick assisted Strock at 4:23 before junior Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) ripped in a blast at 4:51. Freshman Haley Chrisos (Beverly, MA/Bishop Fenwick) also scored. Freshman Cameron Abel (Windham, NH/Salem) made one first-half save, while sophomore Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) stopped four shots in the second stanza.

Ardito and sophomore Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) scored in the first 12 minutes against Springfield, and the Lyons knocked off the Pride for the first time since 2002. It was also Wheaton's first victory in Norton since 2001 against Springfield, which won the last three NEWMAC Tournaments and is ranked 12th nationally. Block tipped in a Dimick shot at 8:34, and Ardito tallied at 11:55. Abel worked around a second-half Springfield tally and backstopped the Lyons to victory with nine saves. She received some help from sophomore back Andria Laroche (Skowhegan, ME/Skowhegan Area), whose defensive save early in the second half kept the Pride off the board.

Wheaton has recorded consecutive seasons of at least 10 wins for the first time since the 1986 and 1987 seasons, while the Lyons' 46 goals are the second-highest total in program history. Dimick is first at Wheaton in career assists (25) and second in points (99) and goals (37), as she is one point shy of the 20-year-old program standard. Senior Lyndsie Ryalls (Branford, CT/Branford) is third in points (65) and goals (24) and fifth in helpers (17). Ardito is tied for third in assists (19), stands fourth in points (63), and is tied for fourth in goals (22). Dimick's 10 assists are one shy of her own single-season program record, her 38 points are the third-highest total in program history, and she's fourth with 14 goals. Ardito's six assists are tied for seventh in a season, and as are her 24 points. Cameron Abel's 10 wins are the most by a Wheaton rookie since Marya Payeur '95 had 10 in 1991, and she's the sixth keeper to hit double digits.

Men's Soccer (9-5-3, 3-0-1) Drops Two of Three Non-Conference Contests by One Goal

The Wheaton College men's soccer team, which is ranked seventh in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), went 1-2 in non-conference play last week, suffering both of its losses by just one goal. The Lyons first lost, 1-0 in overtime to visiting Worcester State College on Tuesday before splitting a pair of games on a Maine road trip. Wheaton defeated Husson College, 5-1 on Saturday but fell at nationally-ranked Bowdoin College, 2-1 on Sunday. With two NEWMAC games remaining, the first-place Lyons are one point ahead of a pair of teams.

Despite advantages of 25-11 in shots and 10-6 in corner kicks, Wheaton fell to the Lancers after a 93rd-minute tally. Freshman keeper Cole Davidson (Needham, MA/Salisbury School) made four saves.

Four players scored during the Lyons' win over Husson. Freshman David Ferriero (Medway, MA/Medway) tallied the first two goals of the game, and senior Dan Chong (Miami, FL/Coral Reef) later made it 3-1. Senior Nick Mann (Durham, NC/Carolina Friends School) and freshman Jason Lewis (Chelsea, MA/Worcester Academy) closed out the scoring with their first collegiate goals. Sophomore Adam Sussman (Swampscott, MA/Swampscott) and freshman Kyle Sye (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxboro Regional) contributed two assists apiece. Freshman Chris Smart (Brookfield, CT/Brookfield) made one first-half save, Davidson turned aside one shot in nearly 36 minutes, and first-year keeper Stefan Viragh (Columbus, OH/Wellington School) stopped two shots over the final 9:20.

Wheaton matched Bowdoin, which is ranked 23rd nationally and third in New England, shot for shot but came up short. Senior Reed Hollett (Bedford, Nova Scotia/Halifax Grammar School) tallied off freshman Jake Wagner's (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) assist in the 35th minute to draw the teams even before the Polar Bears netted the winner in the 51st minute. Davidson made five saves for the Lyons, who held a 7-4 edge in corner kicks. The teams finished with 11 shots apiece.

Balance has been a key for Wheaton, as seven different players have accounted for nine game-winning goals. Freshmen have not only contributed immensely on the defensive end, as three keepers have combined to play every second this season, but the first-year class has carried the offensive load, as well. Of Wheaton's 35 goals and 38 assists, 23 goals (66%) and 27 assists (71%) have been recorded by freshmen. In 2006, Lyon freshmen accounted for two of 34 goals (6%) and two of 30 assists (7%).

Women's Soccer (14-0-1, 6-0) Blanks Pair of NEWMAC Foes, Remains Undefeated

The Wheaton College women's soccer team, which is ranked ninth nationally and second in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), blanked a pair of NEWMAC foes last week while running its regular season unbeaten streak to 30 games. The Lyons' 82-game league undefeated run is the second longest in NCAA history regardless of division or gender and the longest active streak. Wheaton knocked off United States Coast Guard Academy, 14-0 on Tuesday before edging Clark University, 1-0 on Saturday. With three NEWMAC games left, Wheaton is in first place.

Twelve different players had points, led by freshman Melida Alvarez's (Saugus, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols) school-record-tying four markers and nine points, as Wheaton broke the program scoring mark in a win over the visiting Bears. Freshman Emily Hough (Norwich, VT/Hanover) added two goals and two assists, while junior Jessica Bramucci (Ludlow, MA/Wilbraham and Monson Academy) and freshman Amanda Resendes (Swansea, MA/Joseph Case) each notched a goal and two helpers. Seniors Katelyn Brack (Lake Oswego, OR/Oregon Episcopal School), Erin Davis (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow), Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross) and Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth) all had one goal, as did sophomores Kathleen Carroll (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz Central) and Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield). Freshman Barrie Lindsay (Ipswich, MA/Waring School) tacked on two assists. Senior keeper Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) went untested in the first half before sophomore Abby Isaac (Larchmont, NY/Proctor Academy) made one second-stanza stop.

McManus tallied in the 62nd minute for the game's only goal at Clark, as she converted freshman Colleen Liffers' (Merrimac, MA/Pentucket Regional) restart touch. Wheaton racked up advantages of 20-2 in shots and 8-1 in corner kicks. Kronenberg notched the win after making one second-half save in relief of senior Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline), who went untested in the first half.

Konopka is fifth at Wheaton in career points (115), Rabesa is seventh (94), while senior Ashley Furr (Chicopee, MA/Cathedral) is two shy of the top 10 (61) and junior Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) is three short (60). Konopka is tied for fifth in goals (42), while Rabesa is seventh (31). Rabesa is fifth in assists (32), Konopka is tied for sixth (31), and Furr is tied for 10th (25). Kronenberg is first in career shutouts (28) and third in victories (52). Alvarez is tied for sixth in single-season goals (17), five short of the freshman record. With 37 points, she is two away from the top 10.

Women's Tennis (7-4, 3-4) Drops 6-3 Decision to Babson in Lone Match of the Week

The Wheaton College women's tennis team completed its regular season dual match slate with a 6-3 loss to visiting Babson College on Saturday, solidifying the fifth seed in the upcoming NEWMAC Tournament. The Lyons will face number four Smith College in the first round on Saturday, October 27.

Wheaton's lone doubles win came by an 8-0 shutout in the top spot thanks to the freshman tandem of Sarah Geocaris (Newport Beach, CA/Sage Hill School) and Catherine Teague (Manchester, NH/Central). Geocaris and freshman Bethany Pine (Providence, RI/Wheeler School) notched the Lyons' singles victories, as Geocaris registered a 6-2, 6-0 win in the second position while Pine earned a 6-2, 6-2 triumph at number six.

Women's Volleyball (18-9, 2-4) Goes 2-1, Records Highest Season Win Total Since 1998

The Wheaton College women's volleyball team won two of three matches last week, opening play with a 3-0 (12-30, 28-30, 18-30) loss at NEWMAC foe Wellesley College on Wednesday. The Lyons proceeded to sweep both Pine Manor College, 3-0 (30-13, 30-9, 30-22) and Wentworth Institute of Technology, 3-0 (31-29, 30-20, 30-20) on Saturday at Wentworth. Wheaton's 18 wins are its most since the 1998 team had 20. In the league standings, the Lyons are tied for sixth with Babson College.

At Wellesley, which is ranked fifth in the region by the New England Women's Volleyball Association (NEWVA), sophomore Lauren Kraus (Westboro, MA/Westboro) had six kills, while freshman Sam Andreacchi (Burlingame, CA/Pinewood School) notched six kills and nine digs. First-year Kristen Hunt (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) tallied 20 digs, and classmate Becca Rose (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) finished with 20 assists.

The Blue and White tied a program record with 23 service aces against Pine Manor, matching the mark achieved during matches in 2001 and 1996. Freshman Natasha von Sonn (Burbank, CA/Burbank) nearly recorded a triple-double behind 11 kills, 10 aces and nine digs. Her ace total was one shy of the school standard, as she matched the most by a Lyon since 2002. Junior Julia Dekermendjian (Cambridge, MA/Cambridge Rindge and Latin School) and freshman Rae Bradley (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) had six kills apiece. Rose notched 22 assists and four aces, Hunt recorded 20 digs and six aces, and junior Sarah Oster (Lincoln, RI/Lincoln) tallied 10 digs.

Kraus' 14 kills led the way against Wenworth, while von Sonn had 12 kills and 15 digs. Bradley contributed six kills and eight digs, and Rose had 40 assists, nine digs and five aces. Hunt and Oster provided 14 digs apiece, while Hunt also accumulated four aces.

Rose is third in single-season program history with a freshman-record 89 aces, and her 939 assists are 11 shy of tying for sixth at Wheaton. Hunt's 576 digs are 11 short of tying for third in program history and are also a freshman record. The Lyons' offensive output has been evenly distributed, as Kraus (271 kills), von Sonn (209), Andreacchi (204) and Bradley (203) have all topped the 200-kill mark.

Men's and Women's Cross Country Both Top Saints Invitational Fields at Franklin Park

The Wheaton College men's and women's cross country teams each won their respective races on Friday at the Saints Invitational in Boston's Franklin Park, while junior Amanda Rawson (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) finished first during the women's competition. Wheaton's men topped a 10-team field, while the women were the best among 11 schools. The Lyons' next race is the NEWMAC Championship on Saturday, October 27 at Smith College.

Rawson's time of 19:29 was 18 seconds faster than the runner up. Sophomore Katie Pratt (Litchfield, CT/Litchfield) was third in 19:57, freshman Ekaterina Gould (Wayland, MA/Wayland) placed sixth in 20:22, and classmate Christina Nelson (Cranston, RI/Saint Mary Academy-Bay View) was 11th in 21:07. Sophomore Sarah Brand (Cincinnati, OH/Seven Hills School) and senior Jessie Buonaccorsi (Shutesbury, MA/Amherst Regional) were 16th and 18th, respectively.

Freshman Nick Kacher (Waltham, MA/Waltham) led the men for the fourth time in as many meets he has run, finishing eighth in 28:33. Junior Scott Hafferkamp (Merrimack, NH/Merrimack) came in 13th at 29:06, while sophomore Miles Souza (Norton, MA/Saint Sebastian's School) was 14th in 29:16 during his season debut. Junior Dan Libon (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) took 18th.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 10/15/07.
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