KEENE, N.H. – Senior forward Ali Roche (Maynard, Mass.) tallied a season-high three points with a goal and an assist to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's soccer team to a 4-0 victory over host Keene State College this afternoon at Dr. Ron Butcher Field in Keene, N.H.
The Lyons improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Owls fall to 1-3.
The game was called with 9:13 left to play due to inclement weather.
Wheaton dominated play, especially in the first half, owning a 10-4 shot advantage in the first stanza as part of a 17-9 shot margin during the match. The Lyons held an 8-1 corner kick advantage, which included a 7-0 margin during the first half.
The Lyons got on the board as time ticked down in the opening half. After a scoreless first 42 minutes of action, Wheaton scored the first marker of the game when Roche surged up field and connected on a pass in the middle of the box to sophomore forward Gina Trovato (Simsbury, Conn.) who netted her first goal of the season to give the Lyons a 1-0 lead with 1:49 remaining before halftime.
During the second half, Wheaton erupted for three goals (two of which came in the first 10:29 of the second stanza). During the 48th minute, first year forward Karina Contreras (Pawtucket, R.I.) took advantage of a Keene State foul inside the box and scored on a penalty kick to allow Wheaton to take a 2-0 advantage.
Wheaton added its third tally 7:03 later in the match on its lone corner kick of the second half. First year midfielder Kate Rafferty (Westerly, R.I.) recorded her first collegiate point with an assist when she popped up a corner kick towards the deep left corner of the box, which was played by sophomore defender Alexandra Therrien (Merrimack, N.H.). Therrien then sent a shot into the back right corner of the net to tally her first career goal to give the Lyons a 3-0 lead in the 55th minute.
The Lyons added their final tally of the match when senior forward Kate Wickenheisser (Oxford, Conn.) floated a cross from the left wing of the offensive zone inside the box. Junior forward Gina DeBeradinis (Grafton, Mass.) received the pass which was kicked away by an Owl defender over to Roche who uncorked a shot into the back of the net to give the Lyons a 4-0 lead in the 71st minute.
Senior goalkeeper Patricia Bandrup (Poway, Calif.) stopped both shots that she faced in 73:11 of action, before yielding to first year goalkeeper Olivia King (Simsbury, Conn.) who made her collegiate debut during the final 7:36 of action. Sophomore goalie Hannah Verville (Loudon, N.H.) recorded a season-high six saves in 80:47 of action for the Owls.
The Lyons return to action on Wednesday, September 10 when they host Bridgewater State University at Mirrione Stadium at 4:00 p.m. on the Wheaton campus, while the Owls host Westfield State University on the same day at the same time.
