Weekly Lyon

Field Hockey (2-0) Wins Opening Two Contests for First Time Since 2001

The Wheaton College field hockey team opened its season with a pair of road victories last week, first downing Salve Regina University, 3-2 in overtime on Friday before knocking off Regis College on Saturday, 9-0. The Lyons already have 12 goals after needing seven contests to reach that mark last fall and are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since the 2001 campaign.

Junior Lyndsie Ryalls (Branford, CT/Branford) scored 3:25 into extra time to give the Lyons a season-opening victory against Salve Regina. The game marked the fourth straight year the Lyons opened with an overtime contest, and the third straight such game against the Seahawks. Junior Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely) and senior Rachel Sminkey (White River Junction, VT/Hartford) scored 3:19 apart in the first half to give the Lyons a 2-0 lead, but Salve Regina tallied twice in the second half to force overtime. Senior Mary Catherine Boll (Columbus, IN/Miss Porter's School) made 11 saves.

Against Regis, Sminkey tied a school record with four goals and eight points, Ryalls tallied a program-record three assists, and the Lyons broke their single-game scoring mark. Sminkey's goal and point totals matched the figures recorded by Maureen Reynolds '88 during a 1987 contest against Mount Holyoke College. Dimick scored three goals, marking the first time two Lyons notched hat tricks in the same game, and Ryalls' trio of helpers surpassed the old record of two set on seven occasions. As a team, Wheaton had previously scored eight goals twice, once each in 2002 and 2003. Senior Shea Clarke (Bellingham, MA/Bellingham) and freshman Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) added goals, with Block's going as her first collegiate tally. Boll made two saves for her seventh career shutout as the Lyons held a 28-2 edge in shots. Ryalls entered the top 10 in career points at Wheaton during the week and finished up tied for eighth with Sarah Lake '99 at 44 points. Clarke added a helper to move into a tie for second all time at Wheaton with 12 assists, tying her with Lake.

Men's Soccer (2-0) Starts 2006 Campaign with Two Non-Region Triumphs

The Wheaton College men's soccer team opened its season with a pair of home victories over non-region teams, downing State University of New York at New Paltz, 3-2 in overtime on Friday before defeating Fontbonne University (MO), 5-0 on Sunday. The Blue and White is receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason national poll.

Against SUNY New Paltz, the Lyons won their 13th consecutive home opener when sophomore Justin Hart (Ashland, MA/Ashland) tallied the game-winner less than four minutes into overtime. Wheaton rallied from an early deficit with goals by sophomores Jeff Shea (Canton, MA/Canton) and Dan Lane (Dedham, MA/Worcester Academy) for a 2-1 lead at 63:43, but the Hawks tallied late in regulation to force the extra session. Senior Matt Pachniuk (Newtown, CT/Newtown) made six saves.

Senior back Dennis Durao (West Hartford, CT/Northwest Catholic) tied a school record with three assists versus Fontbonne. Durao entered the contest with four career points in 62 games before playing a hand in four goals. A Lyon had recorded a trio of helpers on five previous occasions, last on October 2, 2002. Durao later converted a penalty kick in the 72nd minute for his first collegiate tally to give Wheaton its final marker. Lane scored the first two goals of the game, with Durao assisting on the first at 6:06. Just 42 seconds after halftime, Durao sent a long ball to senior Ariel Tatum (Cayman Islands, BWI/Holderness School) for Wheaton's third goal before assisting Hart's second-half tally. Pachniuk and senior David Croft (Cape Elizabeth, ME/Cape Elizabeth) combined for three stops.

Women's Soccer (2-0) Opens Season With Offensive Surge During Pair of Victories

The Wheaton College women's soccer team, ranked 13th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll, used a pair of high-scoring outings to wins its first two contests of the season last week at Mirrione Stadium. On Friday, the Lyons downed Simmons College, 7-2 before blanking Johnson & Wales University, 7-0 on Sunday.

Against Simmons, 11 players notched at least one point as the Lyons won their 15th straight home opener. Junior Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross) played a hand in each of Wheaton's first three goals as the Lyons took a 3-0 lead by 19:59. Konopka assisted freshman Kathleen Carroll (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz Central) at 5:55, as Carroll scored on her first collegiate shot, before Konopka scored twice in a 3:11 span. Seniors Bridget Furlong (Newburyport, MA/Newburyport) and Courtney Hale (Andover, MA/Andover) and sophomores Bailey Edwards (Austin, TX/Saint Stephen's Episcopal School) and Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) scored the final four goals, with Hale's marker the first of her collegiate career. Junior Ashley Furr (Chicopee, MA/Cathedral) added two assists. Juniors Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline) and Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) and freshman Abby Isaac (Larchmont, NY/Proctor Academy) shared time in net, with Cockburn and Isaac making their Wheaton debuts.

Viscomi notched her first career hat trick during a win over Johnson & Wales and already has four goals this fall after scoring three in 2005. Viscomi earned an assist on the game's first goal from Carroll at 8:50 and, not even a minute later, her header staked Wheaton to a 2-0 lead. She completed the three-goal outing with two during a 5:48 span in the second half. Carroll tacked on her second goal during the 70th minute, while juniors Katelyn Brack (Lake Oswego, OR/Oregon Episcopal School) and Jenna Stiegler (Madison, WI/Middleton) also scored in the game. Freshman Rosie Levy (Torrance, CA/Chadwick School) provided a pair of assists. Kronenberg and Cockburn combined for the shutout. During the week, Konopka passed Beth Caromile '05 and moved into sixth place in program history with 81 career points and overtook Jean Conley '86 for sixth in goals with 31.

Women's Tennis (3-0) Rolls to Three Wins in Three Days By Combined 23-4 Score

The Wheaton College women's tennis team rolled to three wins in three days, beginning the season with a 7-2 decision against Simmons College on Friday and a 9-0 blanking of Rutgers University at Newark on Sunday in a pair of home matches. On Monday, the Lyons downed host Gordon College, 7-2.

To begin play against Simmons, the Blue and White swept the three doubles matches. Senior Jamie Weiss (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker School) teamed with freshman Katherine Knies (Purdys, NY/North Salem) at the top slot, senior Darby McDermott (Briarcliff Manor, NY/Hackley School) paired with junior Briana Jackson (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow) at number two, and junior Maya Milic-Strkalj (Philadelphia, PA/Friends' Central School) and sophomore Mallory Farmer (Washington, CT/The Gunnery) won at the third position. Three Lyons picked up straight-set singles wins, as Knies allowed only one point at number four, Weiss yielded two points in a third-spot win, and Jackson surrendered three points at the top spot. Sophomore Oriana Federico (Andover, MA/Lawrence Academy) gutted out a three-set win in the five hole.

Six Lyons notched straight-set singles victories to highlight the win over Rutgers-Newark. McDermott yielded only one point at number two, Weiss allowed two points at three, Federico gave up three points in the fifth spot, and Milic-Strkalj surrendered four at six. Jackson picked up a 6-3, 6-3 triumph at the top slot, while Knies pulled out a 7-5, 6-1 win at number four. In doubles play, the tandems of Knies and Weiss, Jackson and McDermott, and Farmer and Federico combined to yield five points during a trio of victories.

Wheaton downed Gordon during a Labor Day match. The Lyons took a 2-1 lead into singles matches following doubles victories by the teams of Jackson and McDermott, and Farmer and Federico. In singles play, five Lyons notched straight-set wins. McDermott and Milic-Strkalj yielded one point apiece at two and six, respectively, while Weiss allowed two points at three. Jackson and Federico each gave up three points during their matches at one and five, respectively.

Women's Volleyball (0-3) Begins Season with Three-Match Set at Gordon Invitational

The Wheaton College women's volleyball team opened its season with a trio of losses on Saturday at the Gordon Invitational, the first regular season competition for the Lyons under first-year head coach Ben Read. The Blue and White fell against Johnson & Wales University, 3-0 (11-30, 18-30, 30-32) and Messiah College (PA), 3-0 (23-30, 22-30, 10-30) before suffering a 3-0 (27-30, 16-30, 24-30) setback at the hands of host Gordon College. Following the tournament, senior Tonia Smith (White Plains, NY/Alexander Hamilton) was one of six players from the five competing teams to be named to the all-tournament team. Smith totaled 30 digs, 20 kills and four blocks.

In the Lyons' first match of the season, senior Alexis Liesman (Winchester, CA/West Valley) turned in a double-double performance of 25 assists and 11 digs against Johnson & Wales. Classmate Allison Reichentahl (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire) picked up 20 digs, while Smith had 16 digs and nine kills. Versus Messiah, Liesman tallied 19 helpers, and senior Katie Dooley (Carpinteria, CA/Cate School) recorded 10 digs. Liesman picked up 17 assists against Gordon, while Reichentahl had 13 digs.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 2/8/08.
Questions about this page? Use our query form.

News

Men's Tennis: Men's tennis players Beekman and Hudgins named ITA Scholar-Athletes (more)

Women's Soccer: Hough's tally sends Wheaton past Emmanuel, Leddy notches third shutout (more)