Field Hockey (8-6, 3-2) Wins Twice, Moves into Fourth-Place Tie in NEWMAC Standings

The Wheaton College field hockey team won twice in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action last week, downing visiting Babson College, 3-0 on Tuesday before edging past Clark University, 1-0 in double overtime on Saturday during Homecoming weekend. The Lyons are 4-1 in their past five games, having yielded just two goals in the last 439:36. With three league contests remaining, Wheaton is tied for fourth in the NEWMAC while looking to secure one of eight positions in the conference tournament.

In her first collegiate home game, freshman Emily Asack (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton) scored the initial two goals of her career, leading Wheaton past Babson, which was nationally ranked earlier in the fall. Asack scored in the ninth and 43rd minutes, while junior Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) capped the scoring with 1:01 left. Classmate Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) made five saves, and freshman Bonnie Davies (Roxbury, CT/Shepaug Valley) notched a defensive save. The Lyons collected their second straight home win against the Beavers for the first time since 1991.

Freshman Cara Cusson (Ashfield, MA/Mohawk Trail Regional) tallied with 1:09 remaining in the second overtime to lift the Blue and White past Clark. Despite holding advantages of 27-3 in shots and 16-6 in penalty corners, Wheaton was kept off the board until the 99th minute, as senior Alisa Ardito's (Branford, CT/Branford) initial shot was denied, but Cusson pounced on the rebound and tallied. Bagley made one save, which came during a Cougar rush in the second overtime.

In addition to standing first in Wheaton history with 29 career assists, Ardito remains third in points (79) and fourth in goals (25). She is two markers shy of third, and by appearing in 77 contests, Ardito is two away from matching the school record. Block's 19 goals have her one shy of the top 10, and her 45 points are just two short of the top 10.