Hough's double-overtime winner pushes Wheaton past Eastern, 2-1

September 19, 2007

NORTON, MA- Freshman Emily Hough (Norwich, VT/Hanover) found the back of the net with 1:12 remaining in the second overtime period, and the nationally-ranked Wheaton College women's soccer team defeated Eastern Connecticut State University, 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon in Mirrione Stadium.

The Lyons, who are ranked 11th nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and are tied for first in New England, remained undefeated at 7-0-1 while extending their regular season unbeaten streak to 23 games. The Warriors, who sit ninth in the regional poll, fell to 3-2-1 despite snapping Wheaton's shutout streak at 536:24.

Eastern Connecticut State sent four point-blank shots on net within the opening 75 seconds only to have them turned aside by senior keeper Stacey Kronenberg's (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) three saves and a Wheaton defender's goal-line stop. Sophomore Taylor MacDonald (Oak Bluffs, MA/Martha's Vineyard Regional) put the visitors on top with 15 minutes gone, as she stole a ball in the Wheaton half of the field, beat a Lyon defender and fired a shot from the penalty-kick area past Kronenberg. Wheaton ended up holding a 20-6 advantage in first-period shots, but the hosts hit the crossbar three times and a post once.

In the 61st minute, Warrior sophomore keeper Kim Church (Farmington, CT/Farmington) kept the visitors' lead intact by pushing a free-kick shot off the foot of junior Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) over the crossbar. The Lyons broke through at 75:08, as freshman Alessia Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) sent an aerial pass to classmate Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Loomis Chaffee School), who split the defense and found the lower right side of the net. Wheaton nearly went ahead late, but Church stopped a point-blank shot in the 85th minute, and a Lyon shot was cleared off the line by a defender in the 86th minute.

After the teams combined for three shots in the first overtime, Wheaton held a 3-2 edge in the second extra session. Midway through the 107th minute, Warrior junior Nicole Gaudette (Colchester, CT/Bacon Academy) nearly ended the contest with a shot from 20 yards out that only cleared the crossbar by a couple of feet. Just two minutes later, Lyon freshman Lauren Caney (West Springfield, MA/West Springfield) sent a through ball to Hough, who collected near the top of the box before firing the ball into the upper right part of the net for the winner.

Wheaton finished with advantages of 35-14 in shots and 9-2 in corner kicks. Senior keeper Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline), who entered the game at halftime, made two saves in earning the win, while Kronenberg finished with three. Church, who also played the final 63:48, made seven saves in relief of senior Megan Gloster (Agawam, MA/Agawam), who stopped four shots.

Wheaton opens its New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) slate on Saturday at Smith College with a 2:30 p.m. contest. The Lyons carry a 76-game unbeaten stretch against NEWMAC foes, the second-longest conference streak in NCAA soccer history regardless of division or gender.

SCORING: 1st 2nd OT 2OT Final
Eastern Connecticut State (3-2-1) 1 0 0 0 1
Wheaton (7-0-1) 0 1 0 1 2

1st Half: ECSU- Taylor MacDonald (unassisted) 14:49

2nd Half: WC- Melida Alvarez (Alessia Viscomi) 75:08

2nd OT: WC- Emily Hough (Lauren Caney) 108:48

Goalie Saves: WC- Stacey Kronenberg (45:00) 3, Elana Cockburn (63:48) 2; ECSU- Megan Gloster (45:00) 4, Kim Church (63:48) 7

Shots: WC- 35; ECSU- 14

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