2006 NEWMAC WOMEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT - Lyons turn back Babson in penalty kicks to advance to eighth consecutive title game

November 4, 2006

NORTON, MA- The top-seeded Wheaton College women's soccer team overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit with a pair of second-half goals against number five Babson College to extend Saturday's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament semifinal game into penalty kicks, where the Lyons converted on their first four tries at Mirrione Stadium to advance to their eighth straight title game. Wheaton will await the winner of this afternoon's second semifinal contest between second seed Springfield College and third-seeded Smith College. Tomorrow's championship is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.

Ranked 10th in the nation and second in New England according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the hosts extended a pair of streaks with today's tie. Now 19-1-1, the Lyons are unbeaten in their last 17 games while stretching the nation's second-longest league unbeaten streak to 75 games. The Beavers picked up their sixth tie of the season to go alongside nine wins and four losses.

Playing in its second penalty-kick game in as many conference tournaments, Wheaton started the session with a goal from junior Katelyn Brack (Lake Oswego, OR/Oregon Episcopal School). After Babson's first attempt hit the left post, the Lyons didn't look back, converting kicks from senior Jenna Stiegler (Madison, WI/Middleton), sophomore Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) and junior Erin Davis (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow).

Davis not only clinched the decisive point during penalty kicks, but also assisted on the game-tying goal in the second stanza on a corner kick to sophomore Jessica Bramucci (Ludlow, MA/Wilbraham and Monson Academy), who headed her shot past Babson freshman goalie Sam Scarpato (Weston, MA/Noble & Greenough) in the 72nd minute. Junior Ashley Furr (Chicopee, MA/Cathedral) scored Wheaton's first goal at 59:07, finishing a rebound that hit the crossbar from freshman Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield).

In the opening half, Beaver senior Caitlin Cronin (Hanover, MA/Hanover) connected with junior Shir Castel (Boston, MA/Beaver Country Day) for a 1-0 lead just over 15 minutes into regulation. Cronin also assisted on Babson's second goal in the 33rd minute off a restart, as junior Meg Lynch (Holden, MA/Wachusett Regional) charged the goal from the right side to push her shot into the back corner of the net.

Scarpato finished the game with 13 saves, while Wheaton juniors Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline) and Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) combined for five saves. The Lyons held a 30-12 advantage in shots, including a 21-4 edge after halftime, and a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.

2006 NEWMAC WOMEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
Wheaton 2, Babson 2 (2 OT)

SCORING 1st 2nd OT 2OT Final
Babson (9-4-6) 2 0 0 0 2
Wheaton (19-1-1) 0 2 0 0 2

1st Half: BC- Shir Castel (Caitlin Cronin) 15:02, Meg Lynch (Cronin, Sam Bartman) 32:45

2nd Half: WC- Ashley Furr (Lyndsey McManus, Katelyn Brack) 59:07, Jessica Bramucci (Erin Davis) 71:01

Penalty Kicks: WC- Katelyn Brack 1, Jenna Stiegler 1, Angelamaria Viscomi 1, Erin Davis 1
BC- Jackie Graham 0, Nikki Stier 1, Callie Pilling 0

Goalie Saves: WC- Elana Cockburn (45:00) 3, Stacey Kronenberg (65:00) 2; BC- Sam Scarpato 13

Shots: WC- 30; BC- 12

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