NORTON, Mass. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's soccer team was defeated by visiting No. 6 Massachusetts Institute of Technology this afternoon in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play at Mirrione Stadium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
he Lyons slip to 4-4-4 overall and 0-2-2 in NEWMAC play, while the Engineers, who are ranked in the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll, improve to 9-1-1 and 4-0.
MIT controlled play for the majority of the match, owning a decisive 33-1 shooting advantage, including 15-1 in shots on frame. The Engineers were awarded 11 corner kicks, while Wheaton was given one.
Senior forward Meagan Rowlett (Dana Point, Calif.) and senior back Lauren Davis (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) each netted goals for MIT.
The Engineers got on the board just over nine minutes into the match to take a 1-0 edge. Sophomore defender Madeline Seebeck (San Antonio, Texas) found Rowlett with a throw-in before Rowlett played it back to her, while finding a spot on the top left corner of the box. Seebeck sent a return cross to her and Rowlett lifted a long shot that sailed over the Lyon keeper and into the top right corner inside the far post for her third marker of the season with 34:55 to play in the half.
MIT doubled its lead off a set piece, scoring on a corner kick in the 20th minute of play. Senior midfielder Ashley English (Sheboygan, Wis.) lifted a cross from the right corner flag to the goalmouth, where Davis re-directed the ball with a header into the right corner of the net for her second score of the season with 25:16 showing on the first half clock.
Wheaton's defense kept the Engineers off the board for the remaining 64:44 of the match.
The Lyons' only shot on frame came in the 52nd minute when sophomore back Gabby Diaz-Archilla (Tewskbury, Mass.) lifted a free kick into the box, where junior midfielder Ali Roche (Maynard, Mass.) sent a shot that was easily handled by the MIT keeper.
First year starting keeper Maddy Noll (Northbrook, Ill.) was untested in the opening half for the visitors, before yielding to junior Ava Muffoletto (Kings Park, N.Y.), who stopped the only shot she faced in the second half. Junior goalie Patricia Bandrup (Poway, Calif.) matched her season-high with 13 saves for Wheaton.
The Lyons return to the pitch on Saturday, October 12 when they host NEWMAC foe Emerson College at Mirrione Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff, while the Engineers play on the same day when they travel to Springfield, Mass. to take on conference rival Springfield College at 4:00 p.m.
