SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The Wheaton College field hockey team was defeated, 2-1, by host Western New England University this evening at Golden Bear Stadium in Springfield, Mass. The Lyons fall to 0-2 on the season, while the Golden Bears improve to 1-0 following their season opener.

Wheaton faced a 2-0 deficit late in the match, but put together a late push that saw it attempt three shots and receive three penalty corner opportunities in the final eight-plus minutes of play. The Lyons broke into the scoring column on a penalty corner situation when senior forward Ellie Williams (Wilbraham, Mass.) notched her first goal of the season with 8:11 remaining in the contest to cut the margin in half at 2-1. Junior midfielder Sophie Shekarchi (Jamestown, R.I.) connected with Williams for the score.

Wheaton managed just two shots in the first two quarters, but regrouped at halftime and outshot the home team, 6-4, after making adjustments following the intermission. The Lyons also owned an 8-4 cushion in penalty corners in the second half. Western New England finished the contest with a 10-8 shot advantage, while both teams registered nine penalty corners.

Senior forward Ali Larochelle (New Boston, N.H.) took a feed from senior midfielder Maggie Gallagher (West Chester, Pa.) and converted it into her first goal of the season and a 1-0 lead for the Golden Bears at 22:52 of the second quarter. First year forward Sarah Johnston (Uxbridge, Mass.) took advantage of a penalty corner and tacked on another tally for Western New England with her first collegiate goal coming with just 102 seconds left in the third quarter. Sophomore forward Olivia Eastman (Holderness, N.H.) and senior midfielder Ali Martin (South Windsor, Conn.) combined on the helper to Johnston to give the Golden Bears a 2-0 margin. 

Sophomore goalie Emma Lapreziosa (Bowdoinham, Maine) stopped five shots for Wheaton, while junior keeper Laura Dion (Cumberland, R.I.) turned away four shots, including two in the final four-plus minutes of play, to earn the victory for Western New England.

The Lyons return to action on Tuesday, September 7 when they host University of Massachusetts Dartmouth at 7:00 p.m. on Nordin Field, while the Golden Bears head to Middletown, Conn. on September 8 to play Wesleyan University at 7:00 p.m.