Weekly Lyon

Field Hockey (8-10, 2-5) Registers 1-2 Week, Defeats Smith but Falls to MIT on Strokes

The Wheaton College field hockey team registered a 1-2 week, as the Lyons unexpectedly played three games in three days, starting with a 4-1 non-conference defeat to Tufts University on Thursday in Medford. Wheaton later continued its suspended game with MIT on Friday, as the Blue and White succumbed to the Engineers on penalty strokes. The Lyons then ended their week in strong fashion, defeating conference opponent Smith College, 3-2 on Saturday in Northampton.

At Tufts, Wheaton allowed three goals in the opening 15 minutes of play and never recovered. Tufts came out firing on all cylinders, as the Jumbos triggered 16 shots in the opening stanza, while limiting the Wheaton offense to a single shot on goal. In the second half, the Lyons refused to quit, outshooting Tufts 11-7 in addition to earning six penalty corners. The hosts however pushed the game out of reach with the team's fourth goal of the contest with 19:41 on the clock. Wheaton added a late goal with 3:22 left on a penalty stroke by junior co-captain Laura Oswald (Pacific Grove, CA/Stevenson). Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Fiskio (Branford, CT/Branford) had 12 stops in the cage. The Blue and White held a 10-7 edge in penalty corners.

On Friday, Wheaton and MIT resumed action following Tuesday's suspended contest due to darkness, as the Lyons and Engineers began play with 6:42 remaining in the first overtime. Following 6:42 of the first extra session and 15 minutes of the second overtime, MIT got the better of Wheaton on penalty strokes. The two teams played nip-and-tuck in the opening half, as the Lyons held a 10-8 advantage in shots. The Engineers opened the scoring with 28:16 remaining for a 1-0 edge. Four minutes later, Oswald evened the game off of an assist from sophomore Leigh-Anne Cioffredi (Lebanon, NH/Lebanon). In the second half, MIT had several scoring opportunities, outshooting the host Lyons, 11-5, but the Engineers mustered their only goal off a penalty stroke with 10:09 to play in regulation. With their backs against the wall, the Blue and White turned to sophomore Elizabeth Rowland (Holliston, MA/Holliston). Rowland dodged several MIT defenders before hitting a perfectly-placed shot into the bottom right corner of the cage with 1:31 to play, forcing the overtime. In the second overtime, the Lyons were unable to convert on six shot opportunities and four penalty corners, forcing penalty strokes. The Engineers scored on two of their four attempts, while the Lyons were kept out of the cage. Fiskio posted 23 saves in the loss.

Playing its third game in as many days on Saturday, Wheaton took a 3-1 lead in the opening half and managed to hold off host Smith. Oswald took advantage of a penalty stroke just six minutes into the game, as the Smith goalie was called for smothering the ball. The Lyons extended their lead to 2-0 at the 20:22 minute mark, when freshman Rachel Sminkey (White River Junction, VT/Hartford) converted a pass from junior Mary Alice Capello (Newton, MA/Newton North). The Pioneers got on the scoreboard midway through the stanza, but the Lyons pushed their advantage back out to two goals with 10:03 showing on the clock, as freshman Katherine Krall (Winthrop, ME/Winthrop) converted a pass from junior Melissa Busfield (Gloucester, MA/Gloucester). Fiskio had four saves in the cage, as Wheaton held a 14-7 advantage in shots and 11-5 edge in penalty corners.

Men's Soccer (12-3-0, 4-1-0) Edges NEWMAC Foe WPI, 1-0 in Only Action This Week

The Wheaton College men's soccer team, ranked 20th nationally and third in New England according to the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA), won its sixth straight game of the season on Homecoming weekend with a 1-0 victory over WPI in NEWMAC action at Keefe Field.

After nearly 73 minutes of scoreless soccer, freshman midfielder Cameron Habib (Norfolk, MA/Bridgton Academy) made his first collegiate goal a memorable one, as he posted the game-winning goal with 17:02 remaining. Senior back John Chronis (Danvers, MA/Beaver Country Day) started the play by passing to classmate George Thomas (Canton, MA/Canton), who in turn served a cross from the right side of the field. The WPI goalie appeared to have the save in line, until Habib intercepted the cross on a pretty header that was directed into the bottom left corner of the net. First-year Matt Pachniuk (Newtown, CT/Newtown) and the Wheaton defense kept the Engineers at bay the rest of the way, holding the visitors to only six shots and one corner kick. Pachniuk finished with three saves to earn his sixth shutout of the season. The Blue and White totaled 12 shots and six corner kick attempts.

Women's Soccer (17-1-0, 8-0-0) Captures Fifth Straight Regular Season Conference Title

The Wheaton College women's soccer team made its 2003 Homecoming weekend a memorable one, as the Lyons captured their fifth straight regular season conference championship on a day where Wheaton held the official dedication ceremony for Mirrione Stadium. Defeating Smith College, 3-0 in Saturday's contest, the Lyons collected their 36th straight conference win (including tournament games) and 13th consecutive victory this season. Earlier in the week, Wheaton defeated MIT, 5-1 in Cambridge. The Lyons are ranked fourth nationally and first in New England according to the NSCAA.

At MIT, seniors Christy McHugh (Salem, MA/Bishop Fenwick) and Tracy Prihoda (Needham, MA/Needham) accounted for all five goals. MIT opened the scoring just six minutes into regulation, but Prihoda erased the Engineer lead in the 26th minute, as she converted on a pass from junior Erin Brennan (Mesa, AZ/Xavier College Prep). In the second half, a different Wheaton team emerged, as the Blue and White quickly gained the momentum. McHugh scored the first of her three goals and the eventual game-winning goal in the 55th minute off a feed from Prihoda. Just over two minutes later, McHugh struck again, this time benefiting from a pass from Brennan. Senior Sheila Lacambra (Walnut Creek, CA/Northgate) helped land McHugh the hat-trick at the 68:20 minute mark, which gave the Lyons a comfortable 4-1 advantage. Prihoda added some extra insurance with her second goal of the contest coming in the 76th minute. Sophomore Kate Miller (Williamstown, MA/Mount Greylock) picked up the assist on the play. Wheaton used two goalkeepers in the victory, as senior Jessica Broomhead (Barrington, RI/Barrington) posted five saves and allowed the lone goal in 81 minutes. The Lyons held a 20-7 advantage in shots with a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.

Versus Smith, Wheaton opened the scoring in the 34th minute, when freshman Maggie Falkenreck (Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet) drove her shot off the right post and into the corner of the net. Junior Christy Schneider (Jonesboro, GA/Jonesboro) was credited with the assist. Not even two minutes later, the Lyons added their second goal on a penalty kick. After a Wheaton player was taken down in the box, Brennan took the ensuing kick and tucked her shot out of the reach of the Pioneer goalie. In the second half, Prihoda added an insurance goal. With a little over 28 minutes on the clock, Prihoda took a rebound off the crossbar and headed in Wheaton's third and final goal of the contest. Wheaton used all three of its goalkeepers, as Broomhead got the starting nod and finished with no saves in 75 minutes of action. Wheaton held a 19-3 advantage in shots and 4-1 edge in corner kicks.

Pouliot Becomes Fourth Women's Soccer Player to Earn NEWMAC Laurels

Women's soccer standout Jordan Pouliot (Manchester, NH/Trinity) became the fourth Lyon player this season to earn NEWMAC Player-of-the-Week laurels, this time for the week on Sunday, October 19. In two conference shutout victories, Pouliot totaled eight points and scored two game-winning goals. She posted a pair of goals in a 3-0 win over Babson College and then added two more scores in an 8-0 triumph over WPI.

Women's Tennis (10-4, 6-2) Completes Fall with NEWMAC Tournament Semifinal Finish

The Wheaton College women's tennis advanced to the semifinal round of the NEWMAC Tournament at MIT Saturday afternoon, as the Lyons defeated Wellesley College, 5-3 in the opener before falling to Babson College, 5-1 in the semifinal. Wheaton finishes its fall season at 10-4.

The Lyons defeated Wellesley for the second time this season, as the Blue and White won two of their three doubles matches along with three singles matches. Sophomore Mia Mathias (Boxford, MA/Pingree School) and freshman Ashley Kriwinsky (Munson, OH/Hawken) won 8-4 at first doubles, while juniors Caitlin Amaral (Glocester, RI/Ponaganset) and Maris Madeira (Southwest Harbor, ME/Mount Desert Island) were victorious 8-1 in the third slot. Kriwinsky topped her opponent 6-3, 6-2 in the top singles spot, while freshman Jamie Weiss (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker) won 6-2, 6-3 at second singles. First-year Darby McDermott (Briarcliff, NY/Hackley School) rounded out the singles victories with a 6-1, 6-0 final in the fifth position.

Against Babson, Wheaton dropped all three doubles points and a pair of singles matches. Kriwinsky picked up the lone victory at first singles, winning 6-3, 6-1 over Babson's top player.

Women's Volleyball (15-16, 3-4) Posts 2-2 Record at Hall of Fame, Falls to Wellesley

The Wheaton College women's volleyball team had its three-match conference winning streak come to an end Tuesday night, as the Lyons suffered a 3-1 (30-24, 23-30, 16-30, 23-30) setback to Wellesley College in a NEWMAC contest. Wheaton then split two matches on Friday and another two on Saturday at this weekend's Hall of Fame Tournament. On Friday at Holyoke Community College, the Lyons fell to Springfield College, 3-0 (24-30, 23-30, 17-30) and then rebounded for a five-set victory over Bridgewater State College, 3-2 (30-26, 24-30, 22-30, 30-24, 16-14). On Saturday at Mount Holyoke College, Wheaton was swept by Tufts University, 3-0 (23-30, 18-30, 19-30) prior to blanking Bowdoin College, 3-0 (30-17, 30-28, 30-27).

At Wellesley, sophomore Marriah Vengroff (Storrs, CT/E.O. Smith) led the way with 12 kills and eight blocks. Seniors Darcey Vertuca (Boulder, CO/Boulder) and Anna Kratky (St. Louis, MO/Villa Duchesne) accounted for 13 digs each. Vertuca also notched 28 assists, while classmate Bree Bessette (Charlestown, RI/The Prout School) had an outstanding blocking match with 14 total to go along with eight kills. Both Bessette's 14 blocks as well as Wheaton's 33 team blocks marked the fourth-highest block totals in school history.

Against Springfield, Vengroff led the offense with eight kills, while sophomore Elizabeth Reagh (Seattle, WA/Seattle Lutheran) spearheaded the defense with 17 digs. Kratky had 15 digs, while Vertuca added 11 digs and 23 assists. Responding from two losses to Bridgewater earlier in the season and then rebounding from a 2-1 deficit Friday, the Lyons showed no quit in rallying to victory. Vengroff and Bessette were the hitting leaders with 12 kills apiece, while Kratky had 17 digs. Reagh recorded 14 digs and Vertuca notched a double-double with 13 digs and 38 assists.

On Saturday, Wheaton suffered its second setback of the season to Tufts, as Vengroff led the hitting charge with 10 kills and five blocks. Kratky and Reagh contributed 17 and 15 digs, respectively, while Vertuca distributed 31 assists. Bessette added six kills and seven blocks in the loss. The Lyons finished strong in their final match of the weekend, sweeping Bowdoin thanks in part to Vengroff's 12 kills and eight blocks. Bessette had eight kills and six blocks, while Vertuca posted her third double-double of the tournament with 15 digs and 34 assists. Kratky paced the defense with 19 digs.

Pyle Tabbed ECAC Athlete of the Week and NEWMAC Runner of the Week

Men's cross country standout Stan Pyle (S. Portland, ME/S. Portland) was tabbed Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Male Athlete of the Week for the third time this season and NEWMAC Runner of the Week for the second time. These awards were given for the week ending on Sunday, October 19. Pyle was impressive at the Twin Brook Invitational held at the Twin Brook Recreation Center in Cumberland, Maine. Capturing his second individual title of the season, he covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:22, 40 seconds faster than the next closest competitor. As a team, the Lyons placed fourth overall, trailing Tufts University, MIT and Connecticut College and ahead of conference schools Coast Guard, Springfield College and Babson College.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 1/30/07.
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Men's Tennis: Men's tennis players Beekman and Hudgins named ITA Scholar-Athletes (more)

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