Athletics > Weekly Lyon > 2006--07 > September 11, 2006
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Field Hockey (4-1) Takes Two Out of Three During Four-Day Stretch
The Wheaton College field hockey team continued its strong start, taking two of three contests during a four-day stretch last week. The Lyons downed Simmons College, 2-1 in overtime on Thursday before knocking off Endicott College, 2-1 during their home opener on Saturday at Clark Field. On Sunday, the Blue and White fell to Bowdoin College, 5-1 for its first loss this season. The Polar Bears were ranked fourth in last season's final National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll.
At Simmons, senior Rachel Sminkey (White River Junction, VT/Hartford) posted the first game-winning goal of her career during the extra session to lift Wheaton, tallying off junior Sara Dimick's (Cumberland, ME/Greely) helper. The Sharks took a 1-0 lead into the intermission, but Dimick countered three minutes after halftime on classmate Lyndsie Ryalls' (Branford, CT/Branford) assist. Senior Mary Catherine Boll (Columbus, IN/Miss Porter's School), who stopped a penalty stroke late in the first stanza, made nine saves. Wheaton was credited with four defensive saves on the night, as Ryalls, senior Shea Clarke (Bellingham, MA/Bellingham), junior Kim Anson (Washington, CT/Shepaug Valley) and freshman Cassie Abel (Windham, NH/Salem) each had a save.
The Lyons moved to 4-0 for the first time since 1994 by downing Endicott. Freshman Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) tallied her second goal of the year just 1:46 into the contest to give the Lyons a lead they never relinquished. Midway through the half, Dimick netted her sixth goal of the season. Endicott broke through with 7:18 left in regulation, but the Gulls came no closer. Boll stopped five shots for Wheaton, while Anson and freshman Andria Laroche (Skowhegan, ME/Skowhegan Area) each recorded defensive saves. The Lyons won their third one-goal contest in four games this season after winning three such times in their previous 38 outings dating back to 2003.
Wheaton fell at Bowdoin despite a career-high 19-save effort from Boll. After trailing 2-0 at halftime, the Lyons got on the board when sophomore Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) tallied her first goal of the season 3:43 into the second half, but the hosts pulled away with the final three goals.
Sminkey Corrals First Career Weekly NEWMAC Accolade
Sminkey was named New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Player of the Week for the week ending on Sunday, September 3. The honor was the first of Sminkey's career and the first by a Lyon since September 8, 2003. Sminkey surpassed her 2005 goal total (4) and nearly matched her career output (6) through 54 games by netting five markers in two contests. During Wheaton's 3-2 overtime victory against Salve Regina University on September 1, the forward scored midway through the first half to give the Blue and White a 2-0 edge. The next day at Regis College, Sminkey tied 19-year-old school records with four goals and eight points.
Men's Soccer (4-0) Caps 2-0 Week With Overtime Victory Against Keene State
The nationally-ranked Wheaton College men's soccer team won a pair of non-conference contests to remain perfect on the season. The Lyons, ranked 10th in the country and second in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), blanked Bridgewater State College, 1-0 on Wednesday before downing Keene State College, 2-1 in double overtime on Saturday.
At Bridgewater State, sophomore Jeff Shea's (Canton, MA/Canton) 62nd-minute tally off classmate Dan Lane's (Dedham, MA/Worcester Academy) assist stood as the game's lone goal. Wheaton moved to 12-0 all time against the Bears. The Lyons finished with decisive edges of 23-1 in shots and 14-2 in corner kicks, while senior Matt Pachniuk (Newtown, CT/Newtown) went untested in goal during his first shutout of the season and 24th of his career.
Lane scored twice at Keene State, including the game-winner during double overtime, as the Lyons knocked off the team that eliminated them from last year's NCAA Tournament. The Owls, ranked 17th in the nation and third in New England, saw their 1-0 lead evaporate when Lane cashed in on freshman Adam Sussman's (Swampscott, MA/Swampscott) cross in the 40th minute. At 104:15, Lane tallied again, converting junior Trevor Cote's (Portsmouth, RI/Providence Country Day School) touch into his second game-winner of the season. Pachniuk made six saves and moved into second at Wheaton with 48 career wins, two shy of the program mark.
Lane Notches Third Career NEWMAC Player-of-the-Week Award
Lane notched the third NEWMAC Player-of-the-Week selection of his career, sharing the award for the week ending on Sunday, September 3. The forward contributed to both of Wheaton's home victories on the week, including posting the game-winning goal during a 5-0 win over Fontbonne University on September 3. On September 1 against State University of New York at New Paltz, Lane's 64th-minute marker gave the Lyons their first lead, sending the hosts to a 3-2 overtime win.
Women's Soccer (3-1) Splits Pair of Games Against Non-Conference Foes
The Wheaton College women's soccer team, tied for 15th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national poll and third in New England, split a pair of games last week. The Lyons downed host Endicott College, 4-2 on Wednesday before falling to Western Connecticut State University, 2-1 on Saturday at Mirrione Stadium.
At Endicott, the Blue and White used a pair of second-half tallies to snap a halftime tie. Freshman Kathleen Carroll (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz Central) tallied the game's first goal for the third straight contest, and junior Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross) later netted the first of her two goals thanks to sophomore Jessica Bramucci's (Ludlow, MA/Wilbraham and Monson Academy) helper. Endicott countered by tallying twice in the final five minutes of the opening half to force a 2-2 deadlock. However, Konopka buried the game-winner less than 13 minutes into the second period. Carroll and junior Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth Regional) recorded assists, with Rabesa earning her second of the night. Bramucci capped the scoring with a little less than 13 minutes left. Junior keepers Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline) and Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) combined for four saves as the Lyons held a 30-8 edge in shots.
With a setback to Western Connecticut State, the Lyons suffered only the second loss in their last 58 regular season home games. The Colonials scored just 2:44 into the game, but freshman Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) booted the ensuing restart from midfield into the visitor net three seconds later, setting an NCAA all-division women's record for fastest consecutive goals by opposing teams. However, Western Connecticut State tallied the game-winner just 6:20 after halftime and blanked the Lyons in the second half. Kronenberg finished with four saves.
Viscomi Earns Weekly Conference Honor for First Time
Sophomore Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) picked up her first career NEWMAC Co-Player-of-the-Week honor during the week ending on Sunday, September 3. In Wheaton's 7-2 victory over Simmons College on September 1, Viscomi notched a goal before putting together a three-goal, seven-point performance in a 7-0 win versus Johnson & Wales University on September 3. She assisted on the game-winner 8:50 into the game, netted her first tally 59 seconds later and tacked on two more 5:48 apart during the second half.
Men's Tennis (0-0) Opens Season with Second-Place Showing at Doubles Tournament
The Wheaton College men's tennis team nearly captured its third successive Grass Court Doubles Tournament title after falling one point short of host Salve Regina University on Saturday. Seniors Brian Danishevsky (Hamden, CT/Hamden Hall Country Day) and Brad Dressler (Cranston, RI/Cranston West), who captured the third doubles championship a year ago, highlighted the event with a title in the second flight, as they downed one team from each Division I, II and III along the way. Senior captain Payum Payman (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington) fell short of his quest to capture the top doubles crown for the third consecutive year, as he joined classmate Will Stoddard (Huntington, VT/Mount Mansfield Union) for a semifinal round finish. Sophomore Nii Manfoi Davies (Town & Country, MO/The Principia) and freshman Kyle Hudgins (Uxbridge, MA/Uxbridge) reached the semifinal round of the third flight during their first collegiate action.
Women's Tennis (5-0, 1-0) Remains Perfect with 2-0 Week, Off to Best Start Since 2003
The Wheaton College women's tennis team won a pair of home matches last week and ran its winning streak to seven dating back to the spring season, its longest winning streak since the start of 2003. On Saturday, the Lyons opened their NEWMAC slate with an 8-1 victory over Clark University on Wheaton's Clark Tennis Courts. The following day, the Lyons downed visiting Union College, 7-2. The Blue and White is 5-0 for the first time since 2003 and has outscored opponents by a 38-7 total this fall.
Against Clark, the Lyons swept doubles play before taking five of six singles matches. The doubles tandems of senior Jamie Weiss (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker School) and freshman Katherine Knies (Purdys, NY/North Salem), senior Darby McDermott (Briarcliff Manor, NY/Hackley School) and junior Briana Jackson (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow), and junior Maya Milic-Strkalj (Philadelphia, PA/Friends' Central School) and sophomore Mallory Farmer (Washington, CT/The Gunnery) each corralled wins. In singles play, Weiss and Milic-Strkalj posted shutouts in the third and sixth slots, respectively. McDermott at number two, Knies at four, and sophomore Oriana Federico (Andover, MA/Lawrence Academy) in the fifth slot also picked up singles wins.
During their match with Union, the Lyons picked up two doubles wins, as Jackson and McDermott were triumphant at number two, while Farmer and Milic-Strklaj won at three. Jackson, Weiss and Milic-Strklaj then pulled out straight-set singles victories to clinch the team win, while McDermott and Knies rallied from one-set deficits to win their matches in three.
Women's Tennis Trio Nabs Weekly Conference Honors
For the week ending on Sunday, September 3, Jackson was named NEWMAC Singles Player of the Week, while Knies and Weiss were named doubles team of the week. Jackson went 2-0 from the top position, yielding only three points against Simmons College on September 2 before using a pair of 6-3 triumphs versus Rutgers University at Newark the following afternoon. In their first two matches as partners, Knies and Weiss earned a pair of wins at the top doubles slot. The tandem registered an 8-1 triumph versus Simmons before corralling an 8-2 victory over Rutgers-Newark.
Women's Volleyball (0-7) Completes Competition at Two-Day Williams Invitational
The Wheaton College women's volleyball team dropped four matches at the Williams College Invitational over the weekend. The Lyons opened play on Friday against Connecticut College with a 3-2 (26-30, 30-28, 31-29, 19-30, 4-15) loss before falling by a 3-0 (24-30, 17-30, 23-30) final against Wesleyan University. On Saturday, Wheaton lost to host Williams, 3-0 (21-30, 16-30, 14-30) and Trinity College, 3-0 (12-30, 11-30, 24-30). Senior Katie Dooley (Carpinteria, CA/Cate School), who earned an all-tournament nod, led the Lyons with 17 digs and 12 kills against Connecticut College, while senior Allison Reichentahl (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire) turned in 29 digs. Classmate Alexis Liesman (Winchester, CA/West Valley) recorded 24 assists. Against Wesleyan, Reichentahl registered 25 digs during the three-game match, while freshman Lauren Smith (Bar Harbor, ME/Mount Desert Island) notched 11 assists and Liesman had 10. Reichentahl recorded 13 digs versus Williams before netting 14 against Trinity. Dooley notched seven digs and six assists against the Ephs.
Cross Country Teams Begin Season at Four-Team Amherst Invitational
The Wheaton College cross country teams opened their 2006 seasons on Saturday at the Amherst Invitational, where the women placed second out of four teams and the men came in third.
Junior Megan Brousseau (Attleboro, MA/Attleboro) paced the Lyon women with a seventh-place finish, matching her placement at last year's event. Wheaton's next three scorers came within 44 seconds of each other, as junior Abbe Bosk (Narberth, PA/Springside), senior captain Jennifer Ziello (Litchfield, CT/Litchfield) and sophomore Lily Calderwood (Harvard, MA/Bromfield School) placed 20th, 21st and 23rd, respectively.
On the men's side, junior Pat Benson (Foxboro, MA/Bishop Feehan) turned in a third-place showing, senior captain Matt Peirce (Lincoln, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) was 16th, junior Joe Fowler (Farmington, ME/Mount Blue) was 22nd, and freshman Andrew Brunhofer (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) was 29th. Fowler and Brunhofer each competed in their first collegiate races.
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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)