Wheaton Holds Off Field Hockey, 3-2
NORTON, Mass. (Sept. 26, 2009) – Led by sophomore forward Emily Asack, the Wheaton College field hockey team held on for a 3-2 victory over Mount Holyoke College this afternoon at Clark Field. It was the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both squads.
Asack took advantage of a penalty corner opportunity to put the hosts in front 1-0 just 8:13 into the contest. She then set up a goal by junior forward Jessica Strock in the 32nd minute that gave the hosts a 2-0 halftime edge.
Wheaton (5-3, 1-0 NEWMAC) extended its cushion to 3-0 in the 49th minute, when junior forward Julia Atwood tipped in a shot by classmate Ashley English on a penalty corner set.
Refusing to go away, Mount Holyoke responded with two late goals to slice the deficit to 3-2. Senior forward Katelyn Frick scored the first in the 53rd minute off a feed from sophomore defender Tricia Chase. Thirteen minutes later, sophomore forward Shara Robertson capitalized on a pass from classmate Maddy Starbranch to pull the guests to within one goal.
From there, both teams went scoreless, and Wheaton escaped with its fifth triumph of the season.
The hosts finished with a 16-12 edge in the shot column. Senior goalkeeper Andrea Bagley went the distance between the pipes, making four saves. At the other end sophomore Katie Gibson stopped seven shots for the guests, who fell despite a 15-8 advantage in penalty corner chances.
Mount Holyoke (4-2, 0-1 NEWMAC) will return to action on Wednesday, when it hosts non-conference foe Amherst College at 7:00 p.m.