Massengill stops four shots, pushes record to 3-2-0

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College field hockey team snapped a six-game losing streak behind a pair of goals from senior Jenna Rocha (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) and junior Sarah McNicholas (Boxboro, Mass./Acton-Boxboro) in a 4-1 triumph over Elms College in a non-conference matchup on Sunday afternoon at Nordin Field.

Rocha collected five points on the afternoon (2g, 1a) to move into sole possession of fifth place on the career points list at Wheaton. In 64 games played, Rocha currently has 30 goals and 13 assists for 73 points. Rocha moved ahead of Jessica Strock '11 (30g, 10a, 70p) and Lyndsie Ryalls '08 (27g, 17a, 71p) on the list. Rocha also is tied for fourth all-time in goals and ninth in assists.

After Elms sophomore Abby McNulty (Bedford, Mass./Bedford) drove home her first-career goal from the top of the circle at 6:16, Wheaton responded with four unanswered goals and never looked back.

Rocha evened the score late in the first half in the 28th minute redirecting a feed by freshman forward Amelia Gage (Lebanon, N.H./Lebanon) from the right wing.

Both teams were held scoreless for the remainder of the stanza as the Lyons finished with an 8-4 advantage in shots and a 7-1 margin in corners over the first 35 minutes of play.

McNicholas notched the eventual game-winner at 40:09 off of her own rebound and wasted little time adding her second tally of the game just one minute and 11-seconds later. At the 41:20 mark, McNicholas deposited her third goal of the season off of a quick pass from Rocha past Elms' sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Alvino (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) into the cage for a 3-1 lead. Rocha capped the scoring in the 67th minute with an unassisted marker.

Wheaton finished the game with a 22-6 margin in shots and a 19-4 differential in penalty corners.

Alvino stopped a game-high 13 shots, while senior goalkeeper Ellie Massengill (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) recorded four saves in the win.

The Lyons (4-7) return to action on Saturday, October 5 in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) league play versus Springfield College at home beginning at 1 p.m. Elms (1-9) hosts Union (N.Y.) on Wednesday, October 2 at 6 p.m. Today marked the first-ever meeting between Wheaton and Elms. With the win, the Lyons also improved upon their 3-14 record from a season ago.
          
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