Lyons and Chargers draw even in first meeting since 1995

NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Wheaton College women's soccer team, ranked No. 9 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) New England regional poll, played to a 2-2 double overtime draw against Colby-Sawyer College in non-conference action on Wednesday evening at Kelsey Field.

Wheaton junior forward/midfielder Julia Cipriano (Middlebury, Conn./Pomperaug) opened up the scoring for the visitors in the 23rd minute on a feed from senior co-captain Lauren Corigliano (Roselle Park, N.J./Roselle Park), marking the second time this season and fourth time overall that Corigliano has set up Cipriano for a tally. Corigliano found Cipriano with a service in the box after she broke away from the Chargers' back line for her fourth goal of the season.

Colby-Sawyer junior back Tallon Tomasi (Williston, Vt./CVU) answered in the 36th minute for the hosts to even the score at 1-1. Tomasi netted her second goal of the year just before the half when she bodied a loose ball into the goal through traffic.

The Lyons held a slim, 7-6, margin in shots at the break, while Colby-Sawyer fashioned a 2-0 differential in corner kicks.

At the 64:38 mark, Corigliano pushed the Lyons in front by a 2-1 score with a header on a cross by Cipriano near the left post for her fourth goal of the season. Fifteen minutes and eight seconds later, Tomasi responded once again for Colby-Sawyer with the equalizer. Tomasi found a loose ball off a corner kick and placed it behind Wheaton goalkeeper Lauren Thacker (Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick) through a wall of traffic into the back of the net, eventually forcing overtime.

Cipriano, Corigliano and senior co-captain Gabriella Verde (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) all had quality scoring chances in the extra sessions, but Colby-Sawyer junior goalkeeper Karley Hamilton (Bradford, Vt./Oxbow) turned away all three opportunities for the ensuing tie. Hamilton finished with a game-high seven saves, while Thacker thwarted two shots.

The Lyons finished the contest with a 19-9 advantage in shots – which included a 6-1 showing, combined, between both overtime frames – and a 6-5 edge in corners.

Wheaton (5-3-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) travels to WPI this Saturday at 1 p.m. for its first New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) matchup of the year. Colby-Sawyer (2-5-1) visits New England College on Saturday at 5 p.m.

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