Weekly Lyon

Men's Soccer (13-5-2, 5-0-1) Has Season End in NCAA Tournament First Round

The Wheaton College men's soccer team, which was ranked 25th in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national poll and third in New England, saw its 2005 season come to an end with a 4-1 loss to Keene State College in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament Saturday at Williams College. The loss snapped an eight-game unbeaten streak for the Lyons, who were appearing in their third consecutive NCAA Tournament.

Keene State, which was ranked fifth in New England, scored the lone goal of the first half during the 21st minute and doubled its lead at 50:06, but Wheaton recorded the quickest response in NCAA Division III Tournament history by scoring just 11 seconds later. After the restart following the Owls' second goal, sophomore Trevor Cote (Portsmouth, RI/Providence Country Day School) sent the kickoff into the Keene State end and, after the ball took an awkward hop past a defender, freshman Jeff Shea (Canton, MA/Canton) caught up and chipped a shot over the keeper. However, the Owls scored 4:27 later to reestablish their two-goal cushion and tacked on the final tally with 44 seconds remaining. Junior keeper David Croft (Cape Elizabeth, ME/Cape Elizabeth) finished with a career-high seven saves as the Lyons were outshot, 21-19. Wheaton had neither allowed four goals in a game since September 27, 2003, nor against a non-conference opponent since November 7, 1997.

Shea Earns First NEWMAC Player-of-the-Week Accolade

Shea was named New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Player of the Week for the week ending on Sunday, November 6. The honor was the first of Shea's college career. The first-year forward recorded his first two-goal contest during the Lyons' NEWMAC Tournament title game victory over Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He tallied his first goal during the 49th minute, which went as Shea's first collegiate game-winning marker. During the 72nd minute, Shea found the net again and padded Wheaton's lead. In the Blue and White's fifth championship game appearance, Shea became just the second Lyon to record multiple goals during a title match.

Women's Soccer (18-4-2, 8-0-1) Picks Up Pair of NCAA Wins, Advances to Sectionals

The nationally-ranked Wheaton College women's soccer team blanked a pair of opponents during the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division III Tournament over the weekend at Mirrione Stadium and advanced to the sectional semifinals. On Saturday, the Lyons knocked off Worcester State College, 4-0 before notching a tight 1-0 victory against Western Connecticut State University on Sunday. The Lyons, ranked 20th nationally and third in New England by the NSCAA, are 14-0-2 since a .500 start.

The Lyons kicked off their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance against Worcester State, and junior Bridget Furlong (Newburyport, MA/Newburyport), sophomore Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross) and freshman Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) each recorded a goal and an assist. Viscomi's second career goal went as her second game-winner in the 15th minute, with Konopka and sophomore Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth) each assisting. Konopka netted her league-best 17th goal at 24:26, and Furlong scored just 1:17 into the second half off a helper from Viscomi. Sophomore Julie McLane (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) completed the scoring off freshman Bailey Edwards' (Austin, TX/Saint Stephen's Episcopal School) assist in the 85th minute. Sophomore keeper Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) made two saves. Konopka's season goal and point total of 44 are each tied for the sixth-highest in program history.

Against Western Connecticut State, which was ranked fourth in New England and receiving votes in the national poll, sophomore back Jenna Stiegler (Madison, WI/Middleton) headed home Viscomi's corner kick in the 74th minute for the match's lone tally, and her third game-winner of the season. Viscomi moved into the league lead with her 12th helper, and Kronenberg made three saves for her 12th shutout of the season, and the team's 17th. The Lyons outshot the Colonials, 27-9 while improving their NCAA Tournament record to 10-5-1.

The Lyons advanced to their fourth straight Sweet 16 and will face Tufts University in Saturday's sectional semifinal round at Oneonta State College. With a win, Wheaton would face the winner of Saturday's other sectional semifinal contest between Oneonta State and the University of Rochester on Sunday and fight for an opportunity to earn a trip to its second straight Final Four.

Men's and Women's Cross Country Complete Seasons at NCAA New England Meet

The Wheaton College men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up their 2005 seasons Saturday with the women finishing 11th and the men 26th at the NCAA Division III New England Championship meet, hosted by Springfield College.

Sophomore Megan Brousseau (Attleboro, MA/Attleboro) paced the women with a 26th-place finish, covering the 6,000-meter course in a time of 22:53. Senior Kendra Leith (Holden, MA/Wachusett Regional) was Wheaton's second runner to cross the finish line with a 42nd-place result and time of 23:17. Junior Jennifer Ziello (Litchfield, CT/Litchfield), sophomore Abbe Bosk (Narberth, PA/Springside) and freshmen Lily Calderwood (Harvard, MA/Bromfield School), Megan O'Sadnick (Evergreen, CO/Evergreen) and Amanda Rawson (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) each cracked the 25-minute mark. Sophomore Pat Benson (Foxboro, MA/Bishop Feehan) and junior Matt Peirce (Lincoln, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) led the men's attack, finishing 96th and 119th overall, respectively, with times of 27:26 and 28:00.

Men's (5-0) and Women's (5-0) Swimming Continue Early-Season Success

The Wheaton College men's and women's swimming and diving teams continued their run of early success, each improving to 5-0 for the first time in the respective programs' histories this past week. During a Friday dual meet at Clark University, the men knocked off the Cougars, 118-110, while the women notched a 122-110 win. At Balfour Natatorium on Saturday, the men racked up a 171-100 victory over Babson College before downing Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), 150-128. The women also won twice, doubling up the Beavers, 172-86 and defeating WPI by a 170-116 final.

At Clark, junior Matt Hurley (Belfast, ME/Belfast Area) won a trio of events, while junior All-American Barrett Roberts (Portland, ME/Deering) and sophomores Joe Fowler (Farmington, ME/Mount Blue) and Matt Jordan (Ellsworth, ME/Ellsworth) each brought home two wins. Jordan also sided with freshmen Jake Maher (Newtown, CT/Newtown), Chris Romilly (Washington, DC/Saint Albans) and T.J. Sponzo (Simsbury, CT/Avon Old Farms) to win the 200-yard medley relay. Roberts and Sponzo joined senior John Kuckens (West Hartford, CT/Hall) and sophomore Ryan Patch (Lexington, MA/Lexington) on the winning 200-yard freestyle relay.

For the women, sophomore Meg Miller (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) and freshmen Mandy Cumings (Zionsville, IN/Zionsville Community) and Casey Shanley (Rumson, NJ/Suffield Academy) each won two events, while junior Colleen Smith (Milford, CT/Lauralton Hall) and sophomore Abby Pratt (Melrose, MA/Melrose) corralled one victory apiece. Miller, Smith and freshmen Caitlin Glover (Durham, NH/Berwick Academy) and Kelly Grant (South Salem, NY/John Jay) were a part of the winning 200-yard medley team, while Smith, seniors Courtney Catalano (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) and Lauren Pcholinski (Old Saybrook, CT/Old Saybrook) and sophomore Melinda Labranche (Dorchester, MA/John D. O'Bryant School) comprised the top 200-yard free foursome.

During Wheaton's wins over Babson and WPI, Hurley and Roberts placed first in three events apiece, while Fowler took home an individual victory. Fowler, Hurley, Jordan and Sponzo combined for the win in the 200-yard medley relay, and Patch, Roberts, Romilly and Sponzo won the 400-yard freestyle relay. On the women's side, Miller, Pratt and Shanley led the field with two victories each, while Glover and Smith captured first in one event apiece. The winning 200-yard medley relay featured Glover, Grant, Miller and Smith, and the top 400-yard freestyle relay consisted of Catalano, Miller, Pcholinski and junior Kristen Behrens (Uxbridge, MA/Uxbridge).

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 1/30/07.
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