For Immediate Release
October 3, 2009
Wellesley Sports Information
Release Courtesy Mount Holyoke Sports Information
Blue Field Hockey Downs Mount Holyoke, 3-1
Box Score
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Senior forward Callie Lekas (Brewster, MA) piled up one goal and two assists, as the Wellesley College field hockey team downed Mount Holyoke College this afternoon in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at the Mount Holyoke Turf Field. It was the Blue’s 13th straight win over the Lyons.
Both teams went scoreless in the first half despite totaling 15 shots. The best chance for either team came in the 21st minute, when Mount Holyoke sophomore goalkeeper Katie Gibson (Charlotte, NC) dove to her right to stop a penalty stroke attempt by Lekas.
Wellesley took advantage of a penalty corner opportunity to grab a 1-0 edge just 2:10 into the second stanza. After receiving a pass from Lekas, sophomore midfielder Whitney Reid (Bensalem, PA) blasted a shot past Gibson from the right side.
Lekas found the cage ten minutes later to extend her team’s cushion to 2-0. Junior forward Kate Cushing (Danvers, MA) started the play with a cross from the right side that made its way across the goal mouth and onto the stick of Lekas, who tapped in a one-timer from point blank range.
Refusing to give in, the Lyons got on the board in the 59th minute on a goal by senior forward Mary Kate Switchenko (Sturbridge, MA). First year defender Stephanie Pascual (Lawrence, MA) was credited with the assist on the play after she found a wide open Switchenko in the center of the circle with a long cross from the left side.
Mount Holyoke had a chance to knot things up at two goals apiece in the 65th minute, when sophomore forward Jess Fajardo (Amherst, MA) broke in one-on-one with Wellesley junior goalkeeper Sarina Sawyer (Wilmette, IL). Sawyer came off her line to challenge the breakaway chance but was tagged with a yellow card after the two players collided near the top of the circle.
The play resulted in a penalty stroke chance. First year Natalie Gitz (Oxford, OH) came off the bench to replace Sawyer, and sophomore midfielder Taylor Hedges (Longmeadow, MA) stepped up to the line for the Lyons. Hedges attempt found its way past Gitz but clanged off the left post.
Wellesley put things away in the 67th minute, when Lekas set up first year midfielder Allison Robbins (Bennington, VTl) for what proved to be the final goal of the day.
The Blue outshot Mount Holyoke 15-14 and finished with a 13-5 advantage in penalty corner opportunities. Sawyer was credited with the win after making five saves in 64:41. Gitz came up with fours stops in just 5:19 minutes played. At the other end, Gibson collected six saves for the hosts.