NORTON, Mass. – Four different players scored for host Wheaton College (Mass.) field hockey in a 4-1 victory over visiting Worcester State University this evening at Nordin Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons improve to 1-0 in their season opener, while the Lancers dip to 0-1 in their first contest of the year.
The victory was the first career win at the collegiate level for Wheaton Head Coach Alexandria Sylvia.
The Lyons owned a 22-11 shot advantage, including 17-5 through the first three periods of play. Wheaton was awarded 11 penalty corners, while surrendering just four.
Following a scoreless first quarter, the Lyons scored twice in a span of 2:26 in the second quarter to take a 2-0 lead. Wheaton wasted no time getting on the board in the second quarter. Sophomore midfielder Sophie Kaczmarek (Gorham, Maine) fed senior Maria Worden (Burlington, Vt.) in the left slot for a shot that found the back of the far lower right corner for her first tally of the season. The score came just 2:03 into the period. Junior Kayla Wilonski (Wallingford, Conn.) doubled the Lyons' lead after gathering a loose ball in front of the cage, before unleashing a shot that sailed past the Worcester State keeper for the forward's first marker of the year with 10:31 to play in the opening half.
The Lancers cracked the scoring column with the first goal of the second half. First year Calleigh Currier (Maynard, Mass.) potted her first collegiate marker with just 2:11 gone in the new half to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. Senior forward Hannah Fortin (South Dartmouth, Mass.) restored the two-goal margin with a scoring strike coming with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter for Wheaton.
Sophomore forward Katie Sirois (Greene, Maine) capped the night's scoring by fighting the Worcester State keeper for the ball in a scrum in front of the net, before lifting it up and over the goal line for her first collegiate score coming with 11:51 remaining in the contest to give the Lyons a 4-1 advantage.
Senior goalie Grace Ferguson (Williston, Vt.) turned away three shots in the Wheaton win, while junior keeper Julianna Stanger (New Braintree, Mass.) made seven saves for the Lancers.
The Lyons return to action on Saturday, September 5 when they head to Dudley, Mass. to take on Nichols College at 1:00 p.m., while Worcester State hosts Colby-Sawyer College on the same day at 12:00 p.m.
