For Immediate Release
October 28, 2008
Wellesley Sports Information
Wheaton Outlasts Wellesley Soccer in Overtime
Box Score
WELLESLEY, Mass. – Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA) scored the game-winner 62 seconds into overtime as the visiting Wheaton soccer team defeated Wellesley, 1-0 in a Tuesday afternoon New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) match-up.
Alvarez's shot found the net just inside the left post, beyond the arms of the diving Wellesley keeper for her 12th goal of the season. The win improves Wheaton to 15-4-1 overall with a 7-1-1 mark in the NEWMAC. Wellesley falls to 8-5-2 with a 6-3 conference record.
Wheaton had a string of opportunities to score in the first half, outshooting the Blue 11-5. However, Wellesley keeper Sarah Gray (Montclair, VA) was kept busy in her first collegiate start, collecting nine saves in the first stanza to keep the game knotted at 0-0.
In the second period, Wheaton had the best chance of regulation at 66 minutes when Emily Vincunas (Granville, MA) found herself 10 feet in front of the net with the Wellesley keeper out of position. However, her shot went two feet wide and the game remained scoreless.
With 10 minutes to play, Wellesley had a chance of their own with a sequence of three straight corner kicks, but Wheaton held on and the game was sent into overtime.
Alvarez needed just 62 seconds to secure the Lyon win and assure Wheaton one of the top-two seeds in the upcoming NEWMAC tournament.
In goal for the Lyons, first-year Lindsay Leddy (Warwick, RI) picked up four saves in her ninth shutout of the season. Gray finished with an outstanding 13-save effort for Wellesley.
Wellesley and Wheaton have both qualified as one of the top-four seeds in the NEWMAC Tournament and will host first-round games on Saturday. Pairings will be announced later tonight on http://www.newmacsports.com/.