Women's Soccer Loses to #19 Wheaton, 3-1

(Courtesy of Wheaton College Sports Information)

NORTON, MA- Freshmen Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Loomis Chaffee School) and Emily Hough (Norwich, VT/Hanover) scored 2:03 apart during the second half to bring the nationally-ranked Wheaton College women's soccer team from behind and into the lead during the Lyons' 3-1 victory against Worcester State College on Sunday at Mirrione Stadium. The Blue and White, which is ranked 19th nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), is now 2-0, while the Lancers were opening their season.
 
The scoring opportunities were few during the opening half, as each team was limited to seven shots, but Worcester State senior Kelsey Irish (Hudson, MA/Worcester Academy) broke the stalemate off a free kick less than seven minutes before halftime. The Lancers nearly went up by two goals early in the second period, as junior Amanda Santos (Milford, MA/Milford) hit the far post during the 55th minute.
 
Wheaton answered the threat shortly thereafter, as Alvarez took junior Angelamaria Viscomi's (Newton, MA/Newton North) pass at the right side of the box and scored from 15 yards out at 61:50. Hough tallied from a little further away at 63:53, lofting a left-footed shot across the box and into the left side of the net. Senior Erin Davis (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) assisted. Viscomi capped the scoring in the 84th minute after classmate Jessie Landau (Pound Ridge, NY/Fox Lane) sent her in on a breakaway.
 
Senior Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) earned the win after making three second-half saves in relief of classmate Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline), who turned aside two shots in the first stanza. Freshman Erin Doherty (Feeding Hills, MA/Agawam) made three stops in her collegiate debut for Worcester State. Wheaton held a 19-15 edge in shots.
 
The Lyons complete their season-opening three-game homestand on Wednesday by hosting Endicott College at 5:00 p.m.

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