Box Score Verde nets third game-winning goal this season
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Wheaton College junior Gabriella Verde (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) scored her ninth goal of the season in the seventh minute of the game and the Lyons' defense shut down Smith College for the remainder of the contest to earn an eventual 1-0 victory over the Pioneers on Saturday afternoon in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action.
With the win, Wheaton earns a share of the regular season conference championship with MIT as both squads finished with identical 8-1-1 records in NEWMAC play. The Lyons claim their 12th NEWMAC regular season championship in program history which includes three shared titles ('08, '09, '13). From 1999 to 2009, Wheaton won the NEWMAC regular season conference championship for 11-staight years.
Wheaton outshot Smith, 19-7, and also held a 4-1 differential in corners. Lyons' sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Wilson (Bellingham, Mass./Bellingham) stopped five shots to record her sixth shutout of the season (12 games played). Pioneers' freshman goalkeeper Alanna Lynch (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) recorded 11 saves in the loss including eight in the second half. In 17 games played, Lynch has compiled ten or more saves in four matches.
In the second half, senior Abby Tobin (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) had a header attempt turned away by Lynch, while junior Laila Razzaghi (Ringoes, N.J./Princeton Day School) just missed a shot over the crossbar in the 71st minute to highlight the offensive chances for the Blue and White.
The Pioneers nearly tied the game with 30-seconds left to play as sophomore GiGi Ross (Colt's Neck, N.J./Colt's Neck) was robbed by Wilson, who made an outstretched save to keep the score at 1-0.
Wheaton improves to 27-18-1 all-time against Smith dating back to 1979. The Lyons also pushed their winning streak to 24-straight matches over the Pioneers today and have not given up a goal to Smith in 434:41 since their 4-1 victory on October 25, 2008.
Wheaton (13-5-2, 8-1-1 NEWMAC) will host seventh-seeded Coast Guard on Tuesday, November 5 at home in the first round of the NEWMAC Tournament at 1:30 p.m. Smith saw its season come to a close at 5-10-2 overall and 3-6-1 in the conference.
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