Women's Soccer (9-2, 1-0) Splits Pair, Opens NEWMAC Tournament Defense with Win

The Wheaton College women's soccer team, which is ranked eighth in the country and second in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), split a pair of contests last week, including beginning defense of its second straight New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament title with a 4-1 victory over visiting Mount Holyoke College on Saturday. The Lyons extended their league unbeaten streak to 89 contests, continuing the second-longest run in NCAA soccer history regardless of division. On Wednesday, the Blue and White fell to regionally-ranked Tufts University, 2-0, dropping a regular season home game by more than one goal for the first time since October 5, 1996, while having its 23-game regular season home winning streak snapped.

Against Tufts, which is fourth in New England and receiving votes in the national poll, the Lyons yielded goals in the 42nd and 87th minutes and were blanked despite holding a 22-12 shot advantage. Freshman Lindsay Leddy (Warwick, RI/Wheeler School) finished with two saves.

Four different Lyons scored versus Mount Holyoke in a rainy Mirrione Stadium, while junior Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) and freshman Emily Vincunas (Granville, MA/Wilbraham & Monson Academy) had one goal and one assist apiece. Sophomore Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols) and freshman Bailey Bowling (Littleton, CO/Littleton) also each scored, and Leddy made four saves. Bowling's marker was her first in college.

Wheaton has posted 11 shutouts in its past 16 games dating back to last season, as well as yielded just nine goals over the last 2,011:39 during a 23-contest span. Alvarez is now alone in eighth in program history with 31 career goals and is one point shy of the top 10, having recorded 67.