2006 NEWMAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE TOURNAMENT - Wheaton heads to semifinal round following 17-4 win against Smith

April 27, 2006

NORTON, MA- The second-seeded Wheaton College women's lacrosse team rattled off 11 unanswered goals during a 37:38 span en route to a 17-4 win over number seven Smith College during Thursday afternoon's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament opening round at Keefe Field. Winners in 12 of its last 13 postseason games in Norton, Wheaton improves to 8-6 overall, while the Pioneers complete the season at 3-13.

The Lyons, who are seeking a return to the conference title game for a fifth straight season, advance to Saturday's semifinal round with sixth-seeded Mount Holyoke College. The contest at host Springfield College is set for a 2:30 p.m. start. Mount Holyoke upset number three Wellesley College, 15-8 earlier today.

Wheaton and Smith traded tallies for today's first five goals, as the Lyons captured a slight 3-2 edge with 18:57 remaining in the opening half. Freshman Caitlin Grant (Walpole, MA/Walpole) then scored twice within 1:42 to give the hosts a 5-2 edge. Smith sophomore Sara Smyth (Brooklyn, NY/Poly Prep Country Day) made it a 5-3 game with her second goal of the half coming at 13:56, but the Pioneers wouldn't score again until 35 seconds remained in regulation, as the Lyon defense held the visitors scoreless for 43:29.

Sophomore Meredith Hurd (Bath, ME/Hyde School), who led all scorers with four goals, tallied three of Wheaton's final four first-half goals as the Lyons carried a comfortable 9-3 lead into the break. Wheaton finished with six multiple-goal scorers, including three tallies apiece from Grant, sophomore Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely) and freshman Madeline Williams (Annapolis, MD/Key School).

Senior Julia Coit (South Portland, ME/South Portland) and sophomore Simone Safyer (New Rochelle, NY/The Masters School) added two goals each for the Lyons. For the Pioneers, Smyth led the way with a pair of tallies and one assist, while senior Anna Lee Harris (Saxtons River, VT/Putney School) and freshman Blair Rapalyea (Prides Crossing, MA/Manchester Essex Regional) rounded out Smith's scoring.

Wheaton juniors Kristin Konig (Montecito, CA/Cate School) and Mary Catherine Boll (Columbus, IN/Miss Porter's School) combined for nine saves, while Pioneer sophomore goalie Sara Smith (Brooklyn, NY/Poly Prep Country Day) was credited with 20 stops in the loss.

2006 NEWMAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE TOURNAMENT
Wheaton 17, Smith 4

SCORING 1st 2nd Final
Smith (3-13) 3 1 4
Wheaton (8-6) 9 8 17

Cumulative Scoring:
Goals: WC- Meredith Hurd 4, Sara Dimick 3, Caitlin Grant 3, Madeline Williams 3, Julia Coit 2, Simone Safyer 2; SC- Sara Smyth 2, Anna Lee Harris, Blair Rapalyea

Assists: WC- Dimick 2, Coit, Grant, Safyer, Bridget Thornton; SC- Smyth

Goalkeeper Saves: WC- Kristin Konig (43:17) 7, Mary Catherine Boll (16:43) 2; SC- Sara Smith 20

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News Headlines

Caitlin Grant becomes fourth Academic All-American in Wheaton history (more)

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Seniors Grant and Thornton selected to NEWMAC All-Conference teams (more)

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