Wheaton Downs Blue Soccer in 2OT, 2-1

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Senior Julia Cipriano (Middlebury, Conn.) scored 2:14 into the second overtime period to lift visiting Wheaton College to a 2-1 victory over Wellesley College soccer in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday afternoon.  

Wheaton improves to 7-4-0 on the year, earning their first conference victory to jump to 1-1-0 in NEWMAC play. The Blue drop to 5-2-2 overall and are now 0-1-1 in conference games.

After a scoreless opening session of overtime, Cipriano got free behind the Blue defense at the start of the second overtime, thanks to a feed from midfield by sophomore Sarah Buckely (Oviedo, Fla.). She then collected the ball in stride and calmly slid it past Wellesley senior goalkeeper Kat Goldsmith (Armonk, N.Y.) to score her team-leading sixth goal of the season.

Wellesley had the early advantage in the game, scoring in the 28^th minute when senior Abby Aldridge (Coronado, Calif.) took advantage of the wet field conditions and skipped a shot past Wheaton goalkeeper Sarah Caron (Boothbay Harbor, Maine) to make the score 1-0.

The Blue held the lead until the second half, when Cipriano played a cross to sophomore Caren McCarthy (San Jose, Calif) that was redirected past a scrambling Goldsmith in the 66^th minute. The Lyons' second half marker knotted the score at 1-1, sending the game into overtime where Cipriano would score the game-winner.

Goldsmith finished with eight saves in the game for the Blue. Caron added five saves for the Lyons, as Wheaton held a 16-9 advantage in shots.

Wellesley will look to rebound on Tuesday, October 6, at 4:00 PM when they take on cross-town rival Babson in a NEWMAC contest. Wheaton will also be in action at 4:00 PM on Tuesday when they battle MIT in a NEWMAC game.