NORTON, Mass. – Junior attacker Riley Kilbourn (Madison, Mass.) matched her career high with four goals and added an assist to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's lacrosse team over visiting Salve Regina University, 15-2, this evening in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play at Nordin Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons have won eight of their last nine and improve to 8-4 overall and 5-1 in league play. The victory also clinches a NEWMAC Championship Tournament berth for Wheaton. The Seahawks fall to 2-9 and 1-5 on the year.
The Lyons dominated possession with a 34-20 shot advantage and held a 32-11 margin in ground balls. Wheaton was a perfect 17-17 in clear attempts and won 12 of 18 draw controls.
Kilbourn added five ground balls for the Lyons, while sophomore attacker Georgia Qua (Suffield, Conn.) also tallied four goals and picked up a pair of ground balls. Junior attack Jessica Chamberlin (Bow, N.H.) contributed with two goals, two assists, two ground balls and five draw controls and senior midfielder Gabs Smart (Oakland, Maine) chipped in with a goal and an assist to go with three ground balls, a trio of draw controls and two caused turnovers. Senior midfielder Kilee Sherry (Gorham, Maine) was very active with four ground balls and a game-high three caused turnovers. Sophomore goalie Jenna Langan (Lincoln, R.I.) made five saves in the game for the home team.
Sophomore attacker Daniella Bruno (Niantic, Conn.) and senior attacker Edie Threshie (Stratford, Conn.) each netted a goal for Salve Regina. Senior midfielder Samantha Moleti (Township of Washington, N.J.) picked up three ground balls and had a draw control. First year keeper Flynn Kayajan (Hyannis, Mass.) turned away six shots, while picking up three ground balls and causing a turnover.
Wheaton scored all five goals of the opening quarter, including two from Chamberlin and a pair from Qua.
Bruno put the Seahawks on the board with the first marker of the second quarter coming 69 seconds into the quarter to cut the deficit to 5-1.The Lyons closed out the period with seven unanswered goals, fueled by two from Kilbourn and two more from Qua to give her a team-high 24 on the season and give Wheaton a 12-1 halftime cushion.
Once again, Salve Regina began the new quarter with a goal at the 10:41 mark, thanks to Threshie to pull the visitors within 12-2. It was the final score of the night for the Seahawks.
Senior attacker Lara Finnie (Westfield, Mass.) netted the only other goal of the third quarter, before junior attacker Bridget McDwyer (Lagrangeville, N.Y.) scored her first marker of the year to open the fourth quarter scoring with 12:02 showing on the clock. Kilbourn capped the scoring with her 15th of the year for the Lyons with just 15 ticks left in the game to give Wheaton a 15-2 triumph.
The Lyons return to action on Saturday, April 12 when they host NEWMAC foe Smith College at 1:00 p.m. on Senior Day at Nordin Field, while Salve Regina travels to Cambridge, Mass. to take on league rival Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the same day at 12:00 p.m.
