SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Junior Charlotte Wagner's fourth minute goal held strong as the Mount Holyoke College field hockey team defeated Simmons College, 1-0, in non-conference action on Thursday evening. With the win, the Lyons move to 6-5 on the season, while the Sharks slip to 9-4 overall.
Off a turnover in the midfield, sophomore midfielder Sophie Perekslis (Millerton, N.Y./Berkshire School) carried the ball into the offensive zone and sent a hard shot into the circle. Wagner (West Chester, Pa./Westtown School) was there for a one-timer that sailed past the keeper into the left corner and the 1-0 lead.
Mount Holyoke dominated the opening half of action, carrying the advantage into the second stanza after a 5-1 advantage in shots and a 2-1 edge in corners.
The second half saw the Sharks earn a couple of early penalty corners, but the MHC defense held strong as junior keeper Liz DiCesare (Westford, Mass./Bishop Guertin) turned aside a good chance on a near breakaway by sophomore forward Julie Saltamartini (East Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton Academy).
After another shot attempt by Saltamartini in the 50th minute, the Lyons turned on the pressure with the first of nine penalty corners in the second half by Wagner, who had four shots during the span that went just wide. First year midfielder Colby Newsham (Harvard, Mass./Bromfield School) had a great chance at the 68th minute but a great kick save from junior Brianna Rastello (Salem, N.H./Salem) kept the Lyons from adding to their lead.
The shot by Newsham came during the final five minutes, which saw the Lyons awarded six straight corners. The Sharks defense came up big a final time with seconds to play as a deflection in front sent a shot by first year Miriam Keochakian (Hamburg, Germany/Deerfield Academy) wide and out of play to conclude the game.
In goal for Mount Holyoke - which finished with a 13-4 advantage in shots (12-4 in penalty corners), DiCesare picked up her sixth win of the season, stopping two shots. Rastello shouldered the loss for Simmons, making six saves.
The Lyons are back in action on Saturday in a 4pm NEWMAC match at Springfield. Simmons returns to the field on October 17, hosting Anna Maria in GNAC action at 4pm.
