Schenectady, N.Y. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's soccer team was defeated by host Union College, 3-0, this afternoon at College Park Field in Schenectady, N.Y.
The Lyons dip to 0-1-1 on the season, while the Garnet Chargers improve to 1-1.
Union held a 13-10 shot advantage, including 7-4 in the second half, and a 7-3 margin in corner kicks. The home team netted a pair of goals to take a 2-0 lead at halftime, before netting an insurance marker in the second stanza.
The Garnet Chargers received lone goals from three different scorers, including a tally in the 19th minute of play to give them a 1-0 edge.
First year defender Ashley Sheldon (Andover, Mass.) sent a thru-ball into the middle of the box, where junior forward Sam Friedman (Brookline, Mass.) came streaking across to meet the ball and carry it into the goalmouth. She beat the Wheaton keeper and found the back of the net for her second marker of the season with 26:53 left in the opening stanza.
Union tacked on another goal with a perfectly placed boot from the top of the 18-yard box in the 29th minute of action. Senior midfielder Cassidy Careccia (Latham, N.Y.) sent a short cross to the right side at the top of the box, where first year forward Gillian Paseka (Ellington, Conn.) finished with her first collegiate goal. The rookie put enough spin on a lifted shot that curved outside the reach of the Lyons goalie and over her head for a 2-0 margin with 16:15 remaining in the half.
The Garnet Chargers took advantage of a bouncing ball that managed to slip behind the Wheaton keeper early in the second half, where it was picked up by Union for the third tally of the match. First year forward Taylor Bovardi (Boxford, Mass.) was able to collect the loose ball in the goal mouth and carry it over the goal line with her momentum for her first career marker just 6:08 into the second session.
The Lyons' best chance to score came within the first two minutes of the second half when sophomore midfielder Julia Sternat (Ellington, Conn.) charged into the box, where she was fed a cross from the left side. She unleashed a rocket ticketed toward the upper right corner of the frame, but the Union keeper denied the try with an outstretched dive.
Junior forward Lily Brown (Warwick, R.I.) fired four shots to pace the Wheaton offense.
Sophomore goalie Patricia Bandrup (Poway, Calif.) registered five saves for the Lyons, while sophomore keeper Rachel Berliner (Westwood, Mass.) made a stop in the opening half, before yielding to first year goalie Maya Koster (Farmington, Conn.), who recorded three saves in the second session to combine on the shutout for the Garnet Chargers.
Wheaton returns to action on Wednesday, September 6 when it hosts Roger Williams University at Mirrione Stadium for a 5:00 p.m. start, while Union hosts Smith College on September 7 at 7:00 p.m.
