Box Score Braga collects 50th career point
KEENE, N.H. – The Wheaton College women's soccer team saw its three-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday night against Keene State College as the Owls posted a 4-1 victory over the Lyons in non-conference action at the Owl Athletic Complex.
Keene State senior midfielder Kristen Huckins (Westmoreland, N.H./Keene) tallied two markers and classmate Jessica Berthiaume (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian) registered the game-winner in the 61st minute to push the Owls winning streak to five-straight games.
Newly minted New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week Gabriella Verde (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) gave the Lyons a 1-0 advantage in the 21st minute depositing her fifth goal of the season past Keene State junior goalkeeper Torrie Crenson (North Salem, N.Y./North Salem). Senior forward Kristina Braga (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) picked up her 50th career point (40g, 10a) with an assist on the tally.
Huckins evened the score at 1-1 at the 28:59 mark on a feed from junior midfielder Maggie Grayson (Sugar Hill, Ga./North Gwinnett High) for her first of two goals in the game.
Both teams were held scoreless for the remainder of the half as Keene State finished the opening stanza with a 13-9 margin in shots and Wheaton won the corners matchup, 1-0.
Berthiaume finally broke the 1-1 tie in the 61st minute with her team-leading seventh marker of the season and third consecutive game-winning goal for the Owls. Huckins made it 3-1 in the 75th minute, while freshman midfielder/forward Brittany Tolla (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newton) added an insurance goal at the 86:23 mark.
Wheaton sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Thacker (Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick) stopped a game-high seven shots as the starter for the Blue and White. Classmate Taylor Wilson (Bellingham, Mass./Bellingham) made four saves in a reserve role. Both keepers played one half apiece. Crenson ended the night with seven saves.
The Lyons (6-4-1, 1-0 NEWMAC) travel to Wellesley College on Saturday, October 5 for a NEWMAC contest at 1 p.m. The Owls (7-2-1) host Rhode Island College in a conference matchup on Saturday at 6 p.m. Dating back to 1998, Wheaton leads the all-time series 7-2-1. The Owls picked up their first win over the Lyons since their first-ever meeting in 1998.
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