NORTON, Mass. — The Mount Holyoke College women's soccer team netted the only goal of the afternoon in the 25th minute to defeat host Wheaton College (Mass.) in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference action at Mirrione Stadium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons dip to 3-10-1 and 1-6 in league play, while MHC improves to 3-7-2 and 1-6.
Prior to the match, Wheaton held a pre-game ceremony to honor the program's senior class of Tori Sileo (West Hills, California), Taylor Matsubara (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Gaby Diaz (Lynn. Mass.).
The victory snaps a 29-game winless streak for Mount Holyoke against Wheaton. The visiting Lyons' last triumph in the series came in 1994. The home Lyons were 27-0-2 during the streak.
Wheaton held a 17-9 shot advantage, but just 6-4 in shots on frame in addition to holding a 4-1 margin on corner kicks.
Proving that it only takes one, Mount Holyoke held its hosts scoreless throughout the match and scored the lone goal of the afternoon following a free kick in the 25th minute of play.
Junior midfielder Hannah Keochakian (Amherst, Mass.) sent a free kick from beyond the left boundary of the Wheaton penalty area. In a mixer near the left post, junior Avery Livingston (LaGrange, Ill.) got a foot on the ball and it caromed off of the crossbar. First year midfielder Schuyler Pettibone (Raleigh, N.C.), charging in, collected the rebound and lifted a shot into the back of the net for her first collegiate goal and the 1-0 MHC lead.
Wheaton had a chance to tie in the 80th minute of the match following a corner kick, but junior forward Lily Brown's (Warwick, R.I.) scoring try went wide left to keep the shutout intact for the visitors.
Lyon first year forward Gina DeBeradinis (Grafton, Mass.) and sophomore Julia Sternat (Ellington, Conn.) paced the Wheaton offense with four shots apiece.
Sophomore Patricia Bandrup (Poway, Calif.) made four saves for the home Lyons, while first year keeper Evie Krieg (Frisco, Texas) stopped six shots to earn her first career blank sheet for Mount Holyoke,
MHC returns to the pitch on Wednesday, October 18 when it hosts NEWMAC foe Clark University at 6:00 p.m., while Wheaton heads to Newport, R.I. to take on conference opponent Salve Regina University on the same day at 4:00 p.m.
