Women's Soccer (17-2-2, 6-1-2) Goes 2-0-1, Earns First-Round Victory in Postseason

The Wheaton College women's soccer team, which is ranked 25th nationally and fourth in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), went 2-0-1 last week, earning a share of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference's (NEWMAC) regular season title before picking up a first-round victory during the tournament. The Lyons tied regular season co-champion Wellesley College, 0-0 in double overtime on Tuesday, earning a share of their 11th straight regular season conference crown, before downing host Salem State College, 1-0 on Thursday. Against seventh-seeded Babson College on Saturday, number-two Wheaton notched a 2-1 victory, advancing to the league tournament semifinals for the 15th straight season.

The Lyons will oppose third-seeded Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Saturday in a 1:30 p.m. semifinal at Wellesley, with a spot in their 11th straight title game on the line. Wheaton seeks its 10th league tournament crown and entry into the NCAA Tournament for the 10th straight fall. With 15 shutouts, the Lyons have tied the sixth-highest total in program history. Wheaton has blanked 11 of its last 13 opponents while allowing three goals in the last 1,236:53 over 14 contests since September 23.

Wheaton controlled play against visiting Wellesley, racking up advantages of 31-3 in shots and 4-1 in corner kicks, while sophomore Lindsay Leddy (Warwick, RI/Wheeler School) made one save.

Senior Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) scored on a breakaway feed from classmate Kathleen Carroll (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz Central) in the 64th minute for the only scoring at Salem State. Sophomore Erin Cawley (West Springfield, MA/West Springfield) made three saves for her first collegiate shutout in her second career start.

Sophomore Emily Vincunas' (Granville, MA/Wilbraham & Monson Academy) first goal of the season, with 10:01 remaining, snapped a tie and sent Wheaton past visiting Babson during the NEWMAC Tournament. The Lyons had taken the lead with six seconds left in the first half on a marker from sophomore Jessica Stuart (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth), who converted passes from senior Rosie Levy (Torrance, CA/Chadwick School) and junior Emily Hough (Norwich, VT/Hanover). The Beavers snapped Wheaton's shutout streak at 702:25 with a 75th minute marker, but Vincunas put the hosts in front to stay just four minutes later. Leddy made four stops.

Hough is seventh in program history in career assists (33), eighth in points (93) and tied for ninth in goals (30), while Leddy is third in shutouts (17), tied for fourth in wins (28) and seventh in minutes (3,536:05). Freshman Cassey Muse (Candia, NH/Central) has 15 goals, the third-highest freshman total in program history, and has eight winners. With 10 assists, Hough is the fifth Wheaton player with three double-digit assist seasons. Leddy is tied for sixth in season wins (15) and tied for seventh in shutouts (7).