Lyons Hand 14th-Ranked Ephs 2-1 Loss in Battle of Regional Heavyweights
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.- In a battle of regional heavyweights, the Wheaton College women's soccer team prevailed after scoring a pair of first-half goals en route to a 2-1 victory over nationally-ranked Williams College on Sunday afternoon at Cole Field.
Winning for the third straight game while remaining unbeaten through four matches at 3-0-1, the Lyons entered today receiving national votes and ranked sixth in New England in the most recent National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) polls. The 1-2 Ephs, who advanced to the 2011 NCAA Tournament national quarterfinal round, are ranked 14th in the country and third in the region.
Improving to 3-1-1 in five all-time meetings against Williams, Wheaton received goals from sophomores Lauren Corigliano (Roselle Park, N.J./Roselle Park) and Laila Razzaghi (Ringoes, N.J./Princeton Day School).
The Lyons broke the stalemate in the 22nd minute, when freshman Julia Cipriano (Middlebury, Conn./Pomperaug) sent a cross from inside the right sideline into the box. The Eph goalie came out to challenge the play, but Corigliano corralled the loose ball and finished on the open net for the 1-0 edge.
Williams nearly evened the contest in the 27th minute, but a diving stop made by Lyon freshman goalie Taylor Wilson (Bellingham, Mass./Bellingham) kept the Ephs off the scoreboard.
Wheaton added to its advantage with less than nine minutes to play before intermission. Awarded a free kick from 25 yards out, freshman Cat Amick (Vashon, Wash./Vashon Island) smacked the crossbar before Razzaghi collected the rebound and scored on an open net.
The Lyons nearly came out of the game with a clean sheet until the hosts spoiled the shutout bid with just 2:43 to play. In the waning seconds, Williams again put the ball into the back of the Wheaton net, but the apparent goal was negated due to an Eph handball.
Wilson turned aside two shots to collect the win in net for the Lyons, while Williams used two goalies in split halves. Sophomore Hannah Van Wetter (Lakewood, Colo.) had one first-half stop while taking the loss, and senior Laura Wann (Palos Verdes, Calif.) made one save in the second frame.
The Lyons held a slim 13-11 edge in shots, including an 8-5 advantage in what proved to be the decisive opening half. Only three corner kicks were taken, all by the Ephs.
Wheaton doesn't play again until next Saturday in its New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener against visiting Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) at 1:00 p.m.
