Field Hockey (10-6, 5-2) Extends NEWMAC Winning Streak to Four During 2-0 Week

The Wheaton College field hockey team went 2-0 last week, extending its New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) winning streak to four games behind a 1-0 victory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Tuesday and a 5-1 triumph against visiting Smith College on Senior Day on Saturday. The Lyons are 6-1 in their past seven games, having yielded just three goals in the last 579:36. Wheaton has guaranteed itself either the second or third seed in the NEWMAC Tournament, as it will host a league tournament contest for the third straight season for just the second time in program history after also turning the feat from 1995 to 1997. A Lyon victory against visiting Wellesley College on Tuesday in each team's regular season finale would give them the second seed, which would tie for the best seeding in program history.

Against MIT, senior Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) tallied the lone marker of the game with just 2:17 gone after collecting the rebound of freshman Emily Asack's (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton) shot. Junior Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) made four saves, as the Lyons outshot MIT, 12-8.

Ardito tied a school record with three assists during Wheaton's contest with Smith, helping the Lyons overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit behind five second-half tallies. Ardito played a hand in each of the first three Blue and White markers, Asack scored twice, and junior Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) and freshmen Cara Cusson (Ashfield, MA/Mohawk Trail Regional) and Hannah Knowles (North Kingstown, RI/Rocky Hill School) netted a goal apiece. Knowles' tally was her first as a collegian. Bagley made two saves for the Lyons, who held advantages of 18-6 in shots and 13-6 in penalty corners.

In addition to standing first in Wheaton history with 32 career assists, Ardito tied the program mark by appearing in her 79th game on Saturday. She is third in points (84) and fourth in goals (26), and her 10 helpers this season are one shy of the school record. Ardito has also played a hand in 14 of Wheaton's most recent 26 goals this fall. Block is tied for ninth in both career points (47) and goals (20). Bagley is tied for fourth in single-season wins (10) and tied for fifth in shutouts (5).