For Immediate Release
October 27, 2009
Wellesley Sports Information
Courtesy Wheaton Sports Information
Wellesley Soccer Claims Share of Regular Season Title; Ties Wheaton
Box Score
NORTON, Mass. - Wellesley College tied the nationally-ranked Wheaton College women's soccer team to capture a share of the NEWMAC regular season championship following Tuesday afternoon's scoreless double-overtime draw at Mirrione Stadium. The teams will learn their postseason fates following the rest of tonight's action around the league.
The Lyons, who are ranked 25th in the country and fourth regionally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), extended their unbeaten streak to five games while moving to 15-2-2 overall and 6-1-2 in league play. Ranked eighth in New England, Wellesley is 8-5-3 and 6-1-2, as the Blue shared the regular season championship with Wheaton.
The hosts finished with advantages of 31-3 in shots and 4-1 in corner kicks but were unable to find the back of the net. Wheaton sophomore goalie Lindsay Leddy (Warwick, RI) turned away one shot in recording her seventh shutout, while Wellesley senior Katie Martore (Great Falls, VA) had 11 saves. The Blue also had a team save late in the second half.
Following a first half in which the Lyons took 14 of the period's 15 shots, junior Emily Hough (Norwich, VT) nearly got Wheaton on the board five minutes into the second stanza, but she pushed her shot just left of the target after dodging a defender. A lunging header by senior Rosie Levy (Torrance, CA) in the 57th minute sailed over the crossbar, and another Levy attempt minutes later was cleared out of harm's way.
Wellesley's team defensive stop came with 10 minutes to play in regulation off a Hough shot directed to the lower left corner of the net. With less than four minutes to go, Hough dribbled to the middle of the field and struck the ball deep into the box toward freshman Cassey Muse (Candia, NH), who was unable to get a touch as Martore made the save.
In the first overtime, senior Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA) drilled a free kick from outside the middle of the box toward the lower left corner, but Martore was there to corral the ball. With just under two minutes to go in the first extra session, Hough's shot from 15 yards out glanced off the upper left-hand corner of the goal frame.
McManus and Hough each had chances in the first two minutes of the second overtime, but McManus' serve bounced off the crossbar and Hough's shot was punched out by Martore.
The Lyons complete their regular season on Thursday night at non-conference opponent Salem State College at 7:00 p.m.