BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons Field Hockey increased their win streak to four as the Sharks defeated the visiting Wheaton College Lyons, 4-2 in non-conference action Sunday afternoon. The victory today marks the best start for the program in recent history at 5-1.
Simmons took a 1-0 lead 21 minutes into the game as first year Mary Neidhardt (Middlefield, Conn.) scored her third goal of the year after sophomore Amy Cronin (Georgetown, Mass.) sent a cross ball into the circle from the left side. Two minutes later, Neidhardt tallied again, as Cronin fed another ball across the circle to put the Sharks up 2-0.
The Lyons had several quality opportunities as Sarah McNicholas and Ellen Gulezian each tested Sharks goalkeeper Carolyn Baremore (East Lyme, Conn.) on a scramble in from of the net, but Baremore made the saves and the Sharks cleared the zone. Wheaton had two corners in the final minutes of the first half but McNicholas's shot was blocked and the Sharks maintained a two-goal advantage into halftime.
Wheaton came out strong in the second half, peppering the Sharks defense with shots and recording three corners in the opening five minutes. Amelia Gage registered two shots off a corner but Baremore came up with a big save. The Sharks had their first quality chance of the half off a corner but senior Seneca Martensson's (East Longmeadow, Mass.) shot went just wide. With 25 minutes remaining, Martensson sent a ball from the 25-yard line into the circle and hit the post. First year Gabrielle Henderson (Dover-Foxcroft, Maine) was there for the rebound and scored her second goal of the year.
The Sharks then took a 4-0 lead at 56:31 when Hailey Bruno-Moulton (South Berwick, Maine) tipped a low Martensson shot past Lyons goalkeeper Madison Wolters. Wheaton responded three minutes later with their only tally of the game as Tracey McCann slipped a ball past Baremore off an assist from Jenna Rocha.
Simmons held a slight 17-15 advantage in shots and a 13-9 advantage in corners. Baremore recorded her second win of the year with 10 saves while Ellie Massengill took the loss for the Lyons with nine saves.
The Sharks return to action on Wednesday, Sep. 18 at home against Mount Holyoke College at 7:00 PM. The Lyons travel to Wellesley in the opening of NEWMAC play on Sep. 21 at 12:00 PM.