#1 Wheaton 2, #8 WPI 0   (NEWMAC Tournament - First Round)

Norton, MA --- The top-seeded Wheaton College women's soccer team posted a 2-0 shutout over Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in the opening round of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament Sunday afternoon at Mirrione Stadium. The Lyons, who entered today ranked ninth in the country according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), collected their 16th consecutive win to improve to 19-1 overall. The Engineers complete their year at 6-11-1.

In addition to extending its conference unbeaten streak to 74 games, Wheaton picked up its 13th shutout of the season. Set to host next weekend's semifinal and final round games for the seventh consecutive season, the Lyons are seeking their sixth tournament title over the last seven falls. Wheaton will host fifth seed Babson College on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., while the second semifinal features defending champ and second-seeded Springfield College against number three Smith College at 1:30 p.m. Sunday's championship tilt is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.

Following 57-plus minutes of scoreless soccer, the hosts tallied their two goals during a 3:14 span of the second half. Sophomore Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA) was credited with the game-winner in the 58th minute, while junior Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket, MA) tacked on a goal at 60:36. Wheaton held a 13-2 shot advantage and 2-0 edge in corner kicks in the second stanza.

The Viscomi goal was set up by juniors Erin Davis (Easton, CT) and Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ). Davis directed her pass to the right side of the box, where Konopka went by a WPI defender and fed Viscomi on the far post for the soft finish. The second goal had a similar sequence, with freshmen Abby Isaac (Larchmont, NY) and Rosie Levy (Torrance, CA) connecting with Rabesa on the far post.

Wheaton used a pair of goalkeepers in the shutout, with junior Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA) earning the victory following one save in the second half. Classmate Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA) also accounted for one stop in the first frame. For WPI, freshman Elizabeth Glasson (Worcester, MA) finished the game with nine saves. The Lyons ended up outshooting the Engineers, 22-3 with a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Release courtesy of Wheaton Sports Information