Women's Soccer Drops 4-0 Decision to Wheaton

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College women's soccer team posted a 4-0 shutout victory over visiting Southeastern Massachusetts rival Bridgewater State University on Wednesday afternoon at Mirrione Stadium.

The Lyons improve to 2-2-1 on the season while the Bears fall to 1-2. Wheaton now holds an 11-1 lead in the all-time series which dates back to 1992.

The match was delayed twice by weather events. The first delay was due to a tornado warning that stopped the match with 2:09 remaining in the first half and lasted approximately 30 minutes. The second delay was due to a lightning strike with 30:30 left in the match. The contest began on the Lyons' home field at Mirrione Stadium, but was completed at Wheaton's Nordin Field due to the lack of light at Mirrione.

Sophomore forward Kate Wickenheisser (Oxford, Conn.), junior forward Lily Brown (Warwick, R.I.), sophomore midfielder Julia Sternat (Ellington, Conn.) and freshman forward Mackenna Reynolds (Longmeadow, Mass.) each scored for the hosts who held a 21-14 shot advantage despite not attempting a corner kick. Wickenheisser's unassisted tally, her team-leading fifth of the season came in the 37th minute as the Lyons led 1-0 at the break.

Brown, Sternat and Reynolds each found the back of the net in the second half as Wheaton pulled away for the 4-0 victory. For Reynolds, the goal marked the first of her collegiate career.

The Lyons scored the first two goals of the contest on the grass field at Mirrione Stadium, before netting two more markers on the Nordin turf in the final 20:10 of play.

Sophomore goalkeeper Patricia Bandrup (Poway, Calif.) and freshman netminder Leo Julien (Seekonk, Mass.) combined on the shutout. Bandrup made five saves in just under 72 minutes (71:52) of action to pick up the win, while Julien turned aside five shots as she came on with 18:08 left to play.

Sophomore goaltender Logan Levesque (Bristol, R.I.) recorded nine saves in the setback for Bridgewater State.

The Bears' best chances to score came with less than seven minutes to play in the game. Senior forward Audra McDuffie (Millbury, Mass.) fired a shot within the confines of the box that was saved by Julien, before sophomore midfielder Jenna Sweeney (Wilmington, Mass.) was also turned away by the rookie keeper just 27 seconds later.

Both teams open conference play on Saturday afternoon. The Bears travel to Worcester State University for a four o'clock MASCAC game with the Lancers, while the Lyons entertain NEWMAC rival Babson College at one.