Blue Field Hockey Opens NEWMAC Play with 4-2 Win Over Wheaton

REHOBOTH, Mass.- The Wellesley College field hockey team opened NEWMAC play with a 4-2 win on the road against Wheaton College on Saturday afternoon. Wellesley, which received votes in the most recent NFHCA national poll, improved to 6-1, 1-0 in conference play. Wheaton fell to 2-5 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.

For Wellesley, sophomore Lallie Lukens scored two times, including posting the game-winner, while classmate Nathalie Gruet registered a goal and an assist.

Lyon sophomore Sarah McNicholas scored both of her team's goals, while classmate goalkeeper Madison Wolters was stellar in the cage for the second straight game after making 21 saves.

Wellesley got on the board 10:08 into play, when sophomore Meghan Peterson took a short centering pass from Gruet and ripped her shot into the back of the cage.  Gruet scored not even three minutes later, and Lukens tallied with 10:12 to play in the frame to give the visitors a 3-0 halftime edge.

Lukens made the score 4-0, 2:52 into the second half before Wheaton began its comeback.  McNicholas, who took a cross from junior Jenna Rocha sent a beautiful backhanded shot past the Blue goalie.

McNicholas slammed home her second goal of the game and season at 51:02, as she was the recipient of a junior Emily Chick feed, but the hosts didn't get a shot off the rest of the way.

Wellesley used two goalies in the win, as junior starter Brit Mscisz collected her sixth victory of the fall, playing a scoreless first half.

The Blue held advantages of 31-5 in shots and 20-6 in penalty corners.

Wellesley returns to the turf on Wednesday, hosting Conn. College in a non-conference clash beginning at 4:30pm. Wheaton hosts Bridgewater State University tomorrow at 1:00pm in a rematch of last year's ECAC Tournament first-round game.