Natural hat trick for Alvarez pushes Wheaton to 7-1 triumph against MIT

September 29, 2007

NORTON, MA- Freshman Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols) scored early and often Saturday afternoon against visiting Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), delivering a natural hat trick in the first 8:09 to lead the Wheaton College women's soccer team to a 7-1 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory at Mirrione Stadium.

Ranked seventh in the country and first in the region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the Lyons extended the second-longest league unbeaten streak in NCAA history to 78 games while improving their fall record to 10-0-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference. Wheaton also stretched its regular season unbeaten streak to 26 games since 2006. MIT falls to 6-3 and 1-1.

The Lyons wasted little time getting their offense going, as Alvarez scored at 1:41, 3:16 and 8:09 to become the first Wheaton player to record a natural hat trick since senior teammate Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross) did so at MIT in October 2005. The hosts hadn't scored three goals that quickly to start a game since 2002. Seniors Erin Davis (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) and Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth) and freshman Barrie Lindsay (Ipswich, MA/Waring Academy) were credited with the assists on Alvarez's goals.

Sophomore Rosie Levy (Torrance, CA/Chadwick School) added Wheaton's fourth tally in the 19th minute courtesy of a Davis corner kick from the right side. Freshman Alessia Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) gave a touch to Levy for the finish. Senior goalkeeper Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline) went untested in the opening half, as the Lyons carried a commanding 4-0 advantage into the break.

Freshman Emily Hough (Norwich, VT/Hanover) extended the Blue and White lead to five goals off a Lindsay assist in the 60th minute before the Engineers got on the board. At 62:25, freshman Lauren Hernley (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) lofted her shot over the reach of Wheaton sophomore keeper Abby Isaac (Larchmont, NY/Proctor Academy). Hough's helper to junior Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) at 74:05 and Konopka's pass to first-year Amanda Resendes (Swansea, MA/Joseph Case) at 83:56 completed the scoring.

Isaac finished with three stops in the second half, while MIT junior goalie Stephanie Brenman (Newton, MA/The Winsor School) made eight saves. The Lyons outshot the Engineers, 28-8, and corner kicks were even at three apiece.

Wheaton and Springfield College will do battle on Tuesday at Mirrione Stadium at 4:00 p.m., as the Lyons and Pride are the teams that have won the last two conference championships.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
MIT (6-3, 1-1) 0 1 1
Wheaton (10-0-1, 2-0) 4 3 7

1st Half: WC- Melida Alvarez (Erin Davis) 1:41, Alvarez (Jenna Rabesa) 3:16, Alvarez (Barrie Lindsay) 8:09, Rosie Levy (Alessia Viscomi, Davis) 18:50

2nd Half: WC- Emily Hough (Lindsay) 59:33; MIT- Lauren Hernley (unassisted) 62:25; WC- Angelamaria Viscomi (Hough) 74:05, Amanda Resendes (Lauren Konopka) 83:56

Goalie Saves: WC- Elana Cockburn (45:00) 0, Abby Isaac (45:00) 3; MIT- Stephanie Brenman 8

Shots: WC- 28; MIT- 8

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