SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – The Wheaton College field hockey team closed out the 2015 season on Saturday afternoon with a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) contest at Mount Holyoke. The MHC Lyons earned an 8-3 win over the visiting Lyons.

Wheaton concludes the season with a 9-8 record and 1-7 NEWMAC standing. Mount Holyoke moves to 12-6 overall and 5-3 in conference play, securing a spot in the NEWMAC Tournament. 

Mount Holyoke opened the scoring, starting by a goal from Colby Newsham with an assist from Kathryn Rawson and Julia Bell. The homestanding Lyons added to their lead twice in less than 30 seconds, beginning at the 8:44 mark with a goal from Sophie Perekslis. The sophomore netted the next goal, putting the ball in the left side of the goal.

Newsham made it a 4-0 advantage at the 12:26 mark, before Charlotte Wagner put Mount Holyoke up 5-0 just five minutes later. The MHC Lyons would tack on two more goals before the end of the half. 

Wheaton finally broke through with less than four minutes to play in the first half with sophomore Hannah Southard finding a loose ball off a deflected Amelia Gage pass. The sophomore buried the ball in the right corner.

Mount Holyoke continued to pressure Wheaotn in the second half, adding its eighth goal at the 55:22 mark.

Wheaton refused to back down, capitalizing at 63:37 when first year defender Michelle Connolly pounded one in on the left side. Gage earned another goal back for Wheaton with less than four minutes remaining, firing in a shot from close range.

Sophomore Riley Thompson played 43:47 minutes throughout the contest, making five saves for the Lyons. First-year Emily Curran played the remainder of the contest, coming up with a save.

Junior Liz DiCesare started for Mount Holyoke, playing the first 35 minutes. Ally Tessler and Riani Booysen also saw time for the host Lyons. 

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