NORTON, Mass. -- The Mount Holyoke College field hockey team finished the 2022 season on a three-game winning streak with its first conference win of the season, a 2-1 NEWMAC victory at Wheaton College on Saturday.
First year midfielder Anna Induni (Manchester, N.H.) scored the game-winning goal in the 35th minute, shooting from close range off a pass from senior Mollee Malboeuf (Fitchburg, Mass.), giving Mount Holyoke the 2-1 lead it kept the rest of the way after earlier trailing 1-0.
The Mount Holyoke Lyons finish the season with a 6-11 record overall, a 1-7 conference mark, and a three-game winning streak they'll carry into the 2023 season, including victories over Nichols, Eastern Connecticut State and Wheaton.
"As a coach, you hope you peak at the right time, and we did just that. Unfortunately it wasn't in enough time to make the playoffs, but the way we finished our season bodes well for our future," said Mount Holyoke head coach Andy Whitcomb.
The Wheaton Lyons finish 3-15 overall and 1-7 in league play.
Wheaton held Mount Holyoke scoreless in the first quarter, despite an 11-0 advantage in shots for Mount Holyoke.
Sophie Shekarchi then opened the scoring for the host Lyons in the 22nd minute, her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Less than three minutes later, Mount Holyoke responded with a goal from sophomore Jayonna Montigny (Enfield, Conn.) off a penalty corner that she tipped in on a shot from the left side to tie the game at 1-1.
Mount Holyoke owned a 20-8 shot advantage for the game and a 7-3 edge on penalty corners.
"We showed good teamwork with passing, communication, defense and scoring -- all things we will continue to build on this spring," said Whitcomb. "I'm super proud of how we finished our season and especially proud of our seniors."
Mount Holyoke sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Katzenberg (Reisterstown, Md.) stopped seven shots on the day; Wheaton junior keeper Emma Lapreziosa also made seven saves.
Induni's goal gave her nine for the season, good for the team lead, capping an outstanding rookie season for Mount Holyoke.
Finishing off their impressive collegiate field hockey careers on a high note were Malboeuf, Phoebe Aaronson (Mountain View, Calif.), Kylie Brooks (Oceanside, Calif.) and Laurissa Montigny (Enfield, Conn.).
