Weekly Lyon

Women's Soccer (18-5-2, 8-0-1) Season Ends in NCAA Sweet 16 with Loss to Tufts

The Wheaton College women's soccer team had its 16-game unbeaten streak snapped by Tufts University following a 5-2 loss in Saturday's NCAA Division III Tournament sectional semifinal round game held at Oneonta State College. The Lyons, who were ranked 20th by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), were looking to reach the Elite Eight for the fourth straight season.

The Lyons took a 2-0 lead during the first half of action, as sophomore Katelyn Brack (Lake Oswego, OR/Oregon Episcopal School) scored in the 21st minute before freshman Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) notched a 31st-minute marker. All of Viscomi's goals during her initial collegiate campaign came in postseason play. The second half seemed a different game entirely, as Tufts rallied for all five of its goals during a 31:47 span behind a 20-5 advantage in shots. For the game, the Jumbos outshot the Lyons, 26-14, as sophomore keeper Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) finished with seven saves while senior Emily Lipsky (Whitestone, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) went untested in the final 4:38. Senior back Teresa LeBel (Middleton, MA/Northfield Mount Hermon) became the first player in program history to appear in 100 games, as she completed her career having not missed a single contest while starting 99 matches. The loss marked the first time Wheaton allowed five goals in a game since October 5, 1995, and the first time the Blue and White yielded five markers during a single half since September 24, 1993.

Men's Basketball (2-0) Starts Season with Tip-Off Tournament Sweep

The Wheaton College men's basketball team began its season with a pair of victories over the weekend and claimed the team crown at its tip-off tournament at Emerson Gymnasium. The Lyons downed Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), 112-64 on Friday before knocking off Rhode Island College, 87-82 on Saturday. Senior Sean Kelly (Providence, RI/Wheeler School) was named the tournament's most outstanding player, while he and junior Brian Zukowski (Dracut, MA/Dracut) earned spots on the all-tournament team.

Behind Kelly's stellar all-around performance, the Lyons matched a program record for points set on February 8, 1992. Kelly recorded 10 points, nine assists, eight steals and seven rebounds, and his career-high steal total pushed him past Chris Sullivan's '93 career program mark of 169. The Lyons used a 20-5 run during a span of 6:41 in the first half to blow open a five-point contest, and the Blue and White extended an 18-point halftime cushion by outscoring the Trailblazers, 63-33 in the second period. Fifteen of Wheaton's 16 players scored, led by Zukowski's 17 points. Sophomore Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover) tallied 13 points, freshman Mark Sullivan (West Roxbury, MA/Catholic Memorial) was a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range for 12 points, and classmate Patrick McDonough (Holliston, MA/Loomis Chaffee) totaled 11 points in his Wheaton debut. Senior James Greenslit (Framingham, MA/Rivers School) and freshman Kristopher Pedra (Avon, CT/Avon) added 10 points apiece. Wheaton's 15 three-pointers rank as the second most in school history.

The Lyons downed Rhode Island College in the tip-off tournament title game during a rematch of the 2005 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament championship tilt, which Wheaton also won. On Saturday, the Lyons used a 15-0 run to turn a nine-point deficit with 4:42 remaining into a six-point edge and an eventual victory. Kelly collected 21 points, eight assists and five steals, and Zukowski posted 16 points. Greenslit was 3-for-4 from long range and joined sophomores David Harding (Hanover, MA/Boston College) and Eric Johnston (South Windsor, CT/East Catholic) with 11 points apiece.

Women's Basketball (2-0) Claims Blazers Invitational Victory to Open Campaign

The Wheaton College women's basketball team won Elms College's Blazers Invitational over the weekend to start its 2005-06 season, downing Albertus Magnus College, 67-38 on Friday before racking up a 72-45 win over host Elms on Saturday. In her first weekend of collegiate play, freshman Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School) earned most valuable player, while junior Kim McCormack (Milton, MA/Milton) was named to the all-tournament team.

During its season opener against Albertus Magnus, the Lyons used a 17-3 second-half run to build upon a nine-point lead. Up 37-28 with 12:57 to go in the contest, Wheaton scored 17 of the game's next 20 points during a 6:43 span to make the score 54-31. McCormack led the Lyons with six points during the big run, while sophomore Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT/Trinity Catholic) contributed four points and three boards. For the game, McCormack led the Lyons with 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals, while Hickey added 11 points in her collegiate debut, and junior Casey Sorbara (Port Chester, NY/Trinity Catholic) provided six assists.

The Lyons capped their tournament victory with a big win over host Elms, as Hickey led all scorers with 15 points and also provided six steals and five rebounds. With a seven-point lead at 11:10 of the opening half, the Blue and White reeled off the next 12 points to take a 31-12 advantage with 6:04 remaining in the stanza. Wheaton led at halftime, 40-22 before the Blazers finished off a 17-5 run to edge within 45-37 at 15:41 of the second half. However, seven players scored as Wheaton responded with a 27-8 run to end the game. Freshman Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) registered 13 points, while McCormack had 12 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Aitchison collected nine points, eight boards and four steals, and freshman Jennie Pleat (Nashua, NH/Nashua South) notched eight points and six assists without a turnover.

Men's (6-1) and Women's (6-1) Swimming and Diving Drop First Decisions in 1-1 Week

The Wheaton College men's and women's swimming and diving teams extended their program-best starts to 6-0 versus Bridgewater State College on Friday before each fell at Springfield College Saturday. The Lyon men took down the Bears, 116.5-76.5, while the women picked up a 133-100 victory at Balfour Natatorium. Wheaton's men dropped a 140-105 decision to the Pride, and the women followed suit with a 155-103 loss.

Against Bridgewater State, the Blue and White men won all 11 swimming events, as senior John Kuckens (West Hartford, CT/Hall) and junior All-American Barrett Roberts (Portland, ME/Deering) won two apiece. Five additional Lyon swimmers won one event each, as junior Matt Hurley (Belfast, ME/Belfast Area), sophomores Matt Jordan (Ellsworth, ME/Ellsworth) and Ryan Patch (Lexington, MA/Lexington), and freshmen Jake Maher (Newtown, CT/Newtown) and Chris Romilly (Washington, DC/Saint Albans) were all victorious. Wheaton corralled a pair of relay victories, as Maher and Romilly contributed to each win. The duo joined Jordan and Patch in the 200-yard freestyle relay, while Kuckens, Maher, Romilly, and freshman T.J. Sponzo (Simsbury, CT/Avon Old Farms) swam the 200-yard medley relay.

The Lyon women claimed victories in seven events, as sophomore Abby Pratt (Melrose, MA/Melrose) picked up a pair of wins. Three Blue and White swimmers notched single wins, as junior Colleen Smith (Milford, CT/Lauralton Hall) and freshmen Kelly Grant (South Salem, NY/John Jay) and Casey Shanley (Rumson, NJ/Suffield Academy) each won. Smith also lifted a pair of relay teams to top finishes, first combining with Grant, senior Courtney Catalano (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) and freshman Caitlin Glover (Durham, NH/Berwick Academy) to swim the 200-yard medley relay. During the 200-yard freestyle relay, Catalano, Smith, senior Lauren Pcholinski (Old Saybrook, CT/Old Saybrook) and sophomore Meg Miller (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) won.

Jordan led the Wheaton men against New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Springfield, taking home a pair of individual wins while swimming on a victorious relay team. Jordan finished first in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly before combining with Hurley, Roberts and Romilly for a win in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Hurley also took home first in the 200-yard breaststroke. On the women's side, Pratt notched victories in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard backstroke, and Grant won the 200-yard breaststroke.

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