SPRINGFIELD, MA- The two-time defending New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament champion Wheaton College women's soccer team used a late goal to advance to its 10th straight tourney final, as the second-seeded Lyons knocked off sixth seed Clark University, 1-0 during Saturday's semifinal round at Springfield College's Brock-Affleck Field.

Seeking an appearance in its ninth straight NCAA Tournament, Wheaton meets top seed Springfield tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. for the championship and automatic qualifier into the national tourney. Improving to 16-4-2 while extending their league tournament unbeaten streak to 26 games dating back to 2000, the Lyons, who are ranked sixth in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), look to avenge their regular season loss to the Pride, which stands 18th nationally and third in the region.

Sophomore back Alessia Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North), who came up with a huge defensive save midway through the second half to help preserve the shutout, broke the stalemate in the 89th minute, as her game-winning goal with 1:02 to play pushed the Blue and White to its fourth consecutive shutout against the Cougars. The tally marked Viscomi's first of the season and initial career game-winner.

Goalkeeper Lindsay Leddy (Warwick, RI/Wheeler School) became the second freshman in program history to reach double figures in shutouts, as today's 10th moves her into a tie for fourth on Wheaton's single-season list. Leddy is the fourth Lyon to notch a double-figure shutout total, as she is two shy of third place.

Wheaton's defense, which limited Clark to just two shots, has been stifling of late. During their seven-game unbeaten stretch, the Lyons have yielded just two goals in 670 minutes to go alongside five shutouts. The last time Wheaton gave up multiple goals was on October 11 against Springfield, which snapped the Blue and White's 91-game conference unbeaten stretch. That streak was the nation's longest regardless of division or gender, and it was second all time.

Viscomi nearly gave Wheaton an early advantage just 4:16 into action, as the game's first shot smacked the crossbar. The Lyons held first-half advantages of 7-0 in shots and 4-0 in corners. Junior back Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) was active on the offensive end, taking each corner and firing off three shots, including one that ricocheted off the crossbar. Sophomore Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols) also had an opportunity off of a breakaway, but her 31st-minute attempt drifted just wide of the target.

The Lyons continued their offensive push in the second stanza, with Alvarez twice going wide just 1:26 apart and sophomore Emily Hough (Norwich, VT/Hanover) striking the crossbar at 66:31. Just 1:01 after the Hough shot, Viscomi kept the Clark off the board by heading a ball off the goal line and out of harm's way. Leddy made a save in the 77th minute, and Viscomi's winner came during a scrum following a McManus corner in the waning seconds.

Leddy finished with one stop, while Cougar junior Joanna Clark (Windham, ME/Windham) made three saves. The Lyons finished with a 13-2 advantage in shots and a 6-0 edge in corners.