Endicott Drops Season Opener to #21 Wheaton, 2-0
Sept. 5, 2007
NORTON, MA - Opening on the road against the nation's 21st ranked squad proved to be a difficult task, as the Endicott College women's soccer team was shutout, 2-0, by the Wheaton College Lyons tonight at Mirrione Stadium.
The Lyons, who entered the contest ranked 21st in America and fourth regionally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), upped their record to 3-0 while playing the second of three straight contests against teams that qualified for the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Endicott, the fifth ranked team in New England, falls to 0-1 with the loss.
Wheaton charged out of the gates in the first half as they held a 17-1 shot advantage in the opening frame. Lyons' junior Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) had several opportunities in the first half as she nailed the crossbar in the 39th minute and also sent a breakaway shot sailing wide. Despite Wheaton's constant pressure, Endicott junior goalkeeper Amy Meuse (Saugus, MA/Saugus) kept the Lyons at bay as she backstopped the Gulls to a scoreless first half.
At the 65:31, the Lyons broke on the board. Senior Erin Davis (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) sent a free kick from the right side into the box, where it hit a number of Wheaton players before settling for Melinda Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Loomis Chaffee School), who sent in her first goal. Nearly five minutes later, Wheaton senior Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth) dribbled up the left side and sent a pass into the box for Alvarez, whose initial point-blank shot on Meuse was turned away before the ball was knocked back toward the goal by a defender, and Alvarez pounced on the rebound to give the Lyons the 2-0 advantage and eventual win.
Endicott keeper Amy Meuse was stellar in net for the Gulls as the junior turned in 17 saves and kept the Blue and Green close all night.
Endicott returns to action and looks to rebound over the weekend as they travel to play in the Wellesley Invitational on September 8th and 9th.