SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) field hockey team was edged by a penalty stroke in the final three minutes of the game in a 1-0 loss to host Springfield College this evening in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play at Stagg Field in Springfield, Mass.

The Lyons dip to 7-8 overall and 1-6 in league play, while the Pride improve to 6-10 and 2-5.

Springfield owned a 19-3 shot advantage to punctuate the outstanding defensive effort of the Wheaton defense to keep its host off the board for almost the balance of the contest. The Pride held a 9-2 margin in penalty corners as well.

The Lyons were called for a foul inside the goalmouth with 2:34 left to play in the match, resulting in a penalty stroke for the home team. Junior defender Nicolette Morlock (Rexford, N.Y.) fired a shot past the outstretched Wheaton keeper with a shot that snuck inside the left post for her third marker of the season and a 1-0 Springfield lead.

Wheaton's best chances to score both came within minutes of each other in the latter part of the third quarter. First year midfielder Kayla Wilonski (Wallingford, Conn.) lifted a shot from the left post, but Springfield junior goalie Kaitlyn Parent (Glastonbury, Conn.) absorbed the try into her chest to keep it a scoreless game with 5:22 left in the period. The Lyons looked to capitalize on a penalty corner just 65 seconds later when Wilonski fired a shot from within the goalmouth that went just wide left of the cage.

Graduate student midfielder Anna Beck (Attleboro, Mass.) led all players with six shots, including three on frame for the Pride, while Wilonski finished with three shots for Wheaton.

Sophomore keeper Grace Ferguson (Williston, Vt.) stopped nine shots for the Lyons. Parent recorded one save for Springfield to earn her third shutout of the season.

Wheaton and the Pride both return to action in NEWMAC contests on Saturday, October 26 at 12:00 p.m. The Lyons host Mount Holyoke College on Nordin Field, while Springfield hosts Smith College.