NORTON, MA- The second-seeded Wheaton College field hockey team heads to Springfield College this weekend in search of its initial league tournament title and entry into its first NCAA Tournament since 1983, as the Lyons begin action Saturday by facing number-three Wellesley College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament semifinal at 1:00 p.m.

Wheaton, which is currently 12-6 overall after going 6-2 in NEWMAC play, edged seventh-seeded Smith College, 2-1 in overtime during the first round on Saturday in advancing to the semifinals for the third straight season, a first in program history. The winner of the Lyons' contest with the Blue, which they defeated by a 3-2 count in Norton on October 30, opposes either number-one Springfield or fourth-seeded Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) on Sunday in the final at 1:00 p.m. The Pride and Engineers face off during Saturday's semifinal round at 11:00 a.m.

The Lyons' meeting with Wellesley will be the eighth postseason clash between the teams, including the third league tournament semifinal contest. The Blue has won both semifinal matches by a 1-0 score, including last year in overtime. In Wheaton's only championship game appearance, the Lyons fell to Wellesley during the 1997 New England Women's 8 Conference Tournament title contest.

In its last nine games, Wheaton went 8-1, as it set a program record by downing its last six league opponents. The defense has been solid despite employing three first-time starters, as the Lyons allowed just six goals in the last 723:25. That helped the Blue and White tie 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 that it turned in consecutive finishes that high. The Lyons also tied the school record for league wins.

Senior co-captain Alisa Ardito (Branford, CT/Branford) has been the catalyst of the offense, playing a role in 17 of Wheaton's 32 goals this fall with a school-record-tying 11 assists to go along with six goals. She scored twice during the victory over Wellesley that clinched the Lyons the second seed.

Joining Ardito on the attack have been freshmen Emily Asack (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton) and Cara Cusson (Ashfield, MA/Mohawk Trail Regional). Cusson started all 18 games and has five goals, including four game-winners, with a conference-high-tying three coming in league play. Asack missed eight contests with an injury but is still tied with Ardito for second on the team with six goals, including a two-marker performance against Smith in the first round.

From the midfield, junior co-captain Alex Block (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) has a team-high seven goals while being a key defensive contributor. In the backfield, junior Cassie Abel (Windham, NH/Salem), sophomore Ashley English (Watertown, MA/Watertown) and freshman Bonnie Davies (Roxbury, CT/Shepaug Valley) have each started all 18 games, while sophomore Sarah Crowley (Worcester, MA/Bancroft School) has started 17 contests in her initial season as a regular.

After appearing in 10 contests off the bench during her first two years of college, junior goalkeeper Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) stepped into a starting role and led all NEWMAC keepers in goals against average and save percentage during league play while placing second in shutouts. Bagley has played every second in net for the Lyons, going 12-6 with five shutouts. Wheaton is 8-1 in one-goal games, as Bagley has yielded one goal or less in 12 of 18 contests.