Lyons snap Bears' 11-game winning streak

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Wheaton College senior co-captain Jenna Rocha (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) found the back of the cage at the 93:10 mark of the game's second overtime session to propel the Lyons past Bridgewater State University, 4-3, on Tuesday night at Swenson Field in non-conference action.

Wheaton is only the third team all season to score more than two goals against the Bears who entered tonight's contest ranked sixth in the Division III New England West region. During its 11-game winning streak, Bridgewater State had only given up four goals total. Additionally, the Bears came into tonight's game leading all of Division III in save percentage and also ranked third in shutouts and goals against average.

After receiving a pass from junior Sarah McNicholas (Boxboro, Mass./Acton-Boxboro) in the middle of the circle, Rocha's shot deflected over Bears' senior goalkeeper Kacie Sturgeon (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) into the cage for her fourth goal of the season and seventh career game-winner.

McNicholas powered Wheaton's offense in the first half burying two goals in the stanza to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage headed into the break. McNicholas tied the score at 1-1 at 9:08 with an unassisted tally on a scramble in front of the net and finished a feed from senior Emily Chick (Bangor, Maine/Bangor) at 26:53 for team-leading fifth goal of the year.

Freshman Amelia Gage (Lebanon, N.H./Lebanon) gave the Lyons a 3-1 lead in the 37th minute before Bridgewater State rallied with a pair of unanswered goals by seniors Demi Miskiv (Centerville, Mass./Barnstable) and Carissa Vizakis (Bellingham, Mass./Bellingham).

The Bears outshot the Lyons, 14-11, and also claimed a 9-5 differential in penalty corners in the contest. Wheaton junior goalkeeper Madison Wolters (Marstons Mills, Mass./Barnstable) made one save in 35 minutes of action, while senior goalkeeper Ellie Massengill (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) stopped two shots in 58:10. Sturgeon turned away a game-high six shots.

With tonight's victory, Wheaton picks up its first win over Bridgewater State since September 16, 2008, a 1-0 triumph at home. The Lyons now hold a slim 15-14-1 advantage in the all-time series against the Bears which dates back to 1974. Bridgewater State had previously won the last three meetings between the two squads including a 4-3 overtime victory in the 2011 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament.

Wheaton (6-11, 1-6 NEWMAC) closes out its regular season against Mount Holyoke College, ranked No. 17 overall in the latest Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III National Coaches poll, on Saturday, November 2 at noon. Bridgewater State (14-3) takes on Plymouth State on Saturday on the road at noon.

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