NORTON, Mass. -- The Wheaton College field hockey team was defeated by Salve Regina University in the season opener in a double-overtime thriller, 3-2, this evening on Nordin Field in Norton, Mass. The Lyons slip to 0-1 on the season, while Seahawks improve to 1-0.

Wheaton trailed 2-0 through three quarters of play, but erased the deficit with a pair of goals during a five-minute span mid-way through the final quarter of regulation to knot the contest and eventually send it to overtime. 

The Lyons cut the margin in half when senior midfielder Lindsay Janeczek (Glastonbury, Conn.) was able to solve the Salve Regina defense and broke through with a penalty stroke just over four minutes into the fourth quarter. First year forward Olivia Birbara (West Hartford, Conn.) pulled Wheaton even at 2-2 with her first collegiate goal coming on a feed from junior defender Bridget Healy (Holyoke, Mass.) with 6:06 left to play in regulation.

Junior forward Eliza Timms (Agawam, Mass.) provided all of the offense for Salve Regina with both of the team's markers in the second quarter to give them a 2-0 lead, including a score with just 56 ticks left in the first half. 

The Lyons defense was outstanding, holding the Seahawks scoreless for the final 30:56 of regulation and added a clean sheet in the first overtime, before junior Grace Parker (Simsbury, Conn.) scored the game-winning tally for the Seahawks at 75:41 of the second extra period. Salve Regina kept the pressure on its hosts with a 30-13 shot advantage, but Wheaton held strong.

Sophomore goalie Emma Lapreziosa (Bowdoinham, Maine) made 10 saves in over 75 minutes between the pipes for the Lyons in her collegiate debut, while junior Olivia Butler (Sandy Hook, Conn.) made five saves to earn the victory for Salve Regina.  

Wheaton returns to action Saturday, September 4 when it travels to Springfield, Mass. to take on Western New England University for a 6:00 p.m. non-conference game, while the Seahawks host Johnson & Wales University at 12:00 p.m. on the same day.