Box Score NORTON, Mass. – Sophomore keeper Gabby Marcus (Austin, Texas) made 10 saves and led a stellar defensive effort for the Wheaton College women's soccer team in a 2-0 victory over visiting University of Massachusetts Boston this afternoon at Mirrione Stadium on the campus of Wheaton in Norton, Mass. The win was the third straight for the Lyons, who improve to 5-2-0 on the season, while the Beacons (5-1-1) drop their first contest after owning a six-match unbeaten streak to start the season. The match was the first between the schools since 2012.
UMass Boston owned a 16-11 shot advantage with eight shots in each half, but Marcus was in the right place at the right time for the balance of the match for Wheaton to notch her second career shutout.
Following a scoreless opening half, the Lyons scored twice in a span of just over three minutes early in the second stanza.
Wheaton senior midfielder Chloe Troy (Wethersfield, Conn.) fed a cross to first year midfielder Nevaeh Petruzzi (Exeter, N.H.), who continued down the left side, before unleashing a shot that found the inside of the far right post for her second marker in as many games. The score came just 6:33 into the second half. Troy added to the Lyons' advantage with a goal of her own coming in the 55th minute of play. Senior midfielder Jaime Rattenni (West Greenwich, R.I.) placed her corner kick into the goalmouth, where Troy redirected it with a header into the right corner for her fourth goal of the season and a 2-0 Wheaton lead. The corner kick was one of 11 in the match for the home team to the visitor's total of three for the day.
The Beacons had excellent chances during the match, including a shot from senior forward Grace McGettrick (Marshfield, Mass.) that hit the crossbar and ricocheted straight down, but just outside of the goal line. UMass Boston was thwarted by the cross bar again in the 32nd minute when senior forward Morgan Palma's (Halifax, Mass.) attempt was denied.
Senior keeper Caroline Richards (Duxbury, Mass.) stopped five of seven shots in 68:28 of action for the Beacons, before yielding to classmate Abby McCulloch (Weymouth, Mass.), who turned away both shots she faced in the final 21:32 of play.
The Lyons return to action on Saturday, September 25 when they host New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference foe Smith College at 12:00 p.m. at Mirrione Stadium, while UMass Boston heads to Waltham, Mass. to take on Brandeis University on September 22 at 4:30 p.m.
