Verde nets lone goal for the Lyons

QUINCY, Mass. – The Wheaton College women's soccer team fell to Eastern Nazarene College, 2-1, in overtime on Thursday night in non-conference action at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Wheaton senior co-captain Gabriella Verde (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) put the visitors ahead on the scoreboard only 7:59 into the contest as she volleyed a cross from the right flank via first-year Aunyes Hermantin (Broken Arrow, Okla./Broken Arrow Senior) into the back of the net for her second goal of the season.

The score remained unchanged until the 84:46 mark when Eastern Nazarene first-year forward Kyera Bryant (Guilford, Conn./Guilford) eventually tapped home a pair of feeds from Kelly Couite (West Bridgewater, Mass./Norfolk County Agricultural) and Tina Corey (Cantebury, Conn./Griswold). Couite initated the game-tying strike off a corner kick to Corey who then headed a pass towards the near post to Bryant.

Wheaton first-year forward Caren McCarthy (San Jose, Calif./Pioneer) nearly potted the game-winner for the Lyons with two seconds to play but Eastern Nazarene senior defender Lauren Kett (Norwich, England/Sprowston) thwarted her attempt before the ball crossed the goal line to force overtime between both squads.

In the extra session, Eastern Nazarene sophomore Hannah Scahill (Quaker Hill, Conn./Waterford) lifted the hosts to its third straight victory one minute into overtime with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box, her third marker of the year. Sam Williams (Forest Hill, Md./Bel Air) was credited with an assist on the tally as she sent a cross to Scahill at the top of the penalty box.

The Blue and White outshot Eastern Nazarene, 18-11, while the hosts held a 5-3 differential in corners. Wheaton junior goalkeeper Ali Hinton (Lafayette, Colo./Alexander Dawson School) made three saves in the loss (2-1-0). Eastern Nazarene goalkeeper Kristen Farley (Westminster, Mass./Oakmont Regional) stopped one more shot than Hinton in the victory (3-3-0). Kelsee Howes (Maynard, Mass./Maynard) led the Lyons in shots with seven (one on goal), while Verde registered five shots (two on net).

Wheaton (3-2-0) returns to action on Saturday, September 13 as the Lyons host Salem State at Mirrione Stadium at 2 p.m. Eastern Nazarene (3-3-0) travels to Western New England University this Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. matchup.

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