Field Hockey (12-6, 6-2) Wins Two, Including During Overtime in NEWMAC First Round

The Wheaton College field hockey team went 2-0 last week, setting a school record by extending its winning streak against conference foes to six games behind a 3-2 triumph against Wellesley College on Thursday and a 2-1 overtime victory versus Smith College during the first round of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament on Saturday. The Lyons are 8-1 in their past nine games, having yielded just six goals in the last 723:25.

As the second seed, Wheaton hosted a conference tournament contest for the third straight season, turning the feat for the second time in program history, while tying for the best seeding in school annals. The Lyons tied for second in the NEWMAC standings for the second year in a row, marking the first time in 22 years of being in a league they turned in consecutive finishes that high. The Blue and White tied the program mark for league wins and advanced to the tournament semifinals for the third straight season, a team first. Wheaton opposes third-seeded Wellesley in the semifinals on Saturday at Springfield College at 1:00 p.m., as a win would propel it into its first final since 1997. A victory in the title game would give the Lyons their initial league tournament crown and a berth into their first NCAA Tournament since 1983.

Senior Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) scored twice on Senior Day, and sophomore Julia Atwood's (Concord, MA/Brooks School) 31st-minute marker proved to be the difference during host Wheaton's win against Wellesley, its first since October 6, 1994, as the Lyons snapped an 18-game losing streak to the Blue. Sophomore Margaux Bolte (Belmont, MA/Belmont) assisted an Ardito tally in the eighth minute that put the Lyons in front, and Ardito tacked on a 23rd-minute goal to give the hosts a 2-1 edge. Atwood scored during a penalty-corner sequence to make it 3-1, and Wheaton held on for the victory. Junior keeper Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) made five saves.

Against seventh-seeded Smith, the number-two Lyons received a pair of goals from freshman Emily Asack (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton), including the winner just 3:49 into overtime to help homestanding Wheaton avoid the upset. The Blue and White improved to 7-1 all time at home during league tournament play. Asack scored her first goal in the 53rd minute to knot the contest, and Ardito slipped the freshman a pass in the 74th minute for the game-winner. Bagley made two saves for the Lyons, who held advantages of 21-5 in shots and 14-4 in penalty corners.

In addition to extending her school record to 33 career assists, Ardito now owns the program mark by having appeared in 81 contests. She is third in points (89) and goals (28), her 11 helpers this season have tied the school record, and she is tied for ninth with her 23 points this fall. Ardito has also played a hand in 17 of Wheaton's most recent 31 goals. Junior Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) is tied for ninth in both career points (47) and goals (20). Bagley is fourth in single-season wins (12) and tied for fifth in shutouts (5) during her initial season as a starting goalkeeper at the college level.