NORTON, Mass. – Sophomore
Karina Contreras (Pawtucket, R.I.) factored into both goals to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's soccer team in a 2-1 victory over visiting Emerson College this afternoon in the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference season opener at Mirrione Stadium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons improve to 3-2-1 overall and 1-0 in league play, while the Lions fall to 2-2-2 and 0-1-0.
Wheaton held a 17-14 shot advantage, including 11-5 in shots on frame. Emerson held a 6-3 margin in corner kicks.
All three goals in the match were scored in a span of 3:29, including the pair by the Lyons that were separated by just 64 seconds.
Contreras lifted a long cross to sophomore forward
Camila Leiva (Warwick, R.I.), who picked up the ball at the top right corner of the box, before dribbling into the right post for Wheaton. Leiva fired a shot into the far left corner for her team-leading sixth goal of the year just 8:10 into the match.
The Lyons doubled their lead with a goal coming in the 10th minute of the game. Junior
Maile Chargualaf (Broomfield, Colo.) served a ball from midfield ahead of Contreras, who ran under it, before unleashing a shot that was blocked by the Lion keeper, who came off her line. Contreras collected the rebound and netted her third marker of the year on the rebound shot with 9:14 gone in the opening half for a 2-0 margin.
It wasn't long before Emerson was able to get the goal back, scoring 2:25 later, to pull within 2-1 in the 12th minute of the game. Sophomore back Madisyn Grant (Los Angeles, Calif.) lifted a cross from the right side into the goal mouth that the Wheaton keeper was able to get her fingertips on, but the ball hit the far left post and came out in front of the net. Sophomore midfielder Abby Cockerill (Oak Park, Ill.) was there to knock home the rebound for her first score of the year.
Following the three and half minutes of an offensive outburst by both teams, the defenses took over with 78-plus minutes of scoreless soccer to close out the contest.
Sophomore goalie
Olivia King (Simsbury, Conn.) finished with four saves for the Lyons, while junior keeper Hailey Forman (Saratoga, Calif.) turned away nine shots for the Lions.
Wheaton returns to action on Monday, September 21 when it travels to Worcester, Mass. to play NEWMAC foe Worcester Polytechnic Institute at 6:00 p.m., while Emerson hosts Bowdoin College on September 23 at 7:00 p.m.
