Field Hockey Drops 4-1 Decision to Wheaton on Senior Night

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Freshman midfielder Hannah Arkin (New Hyde Park, Mass.) tallied a pair of goals to lead the Wheaton College field hockey team to a 4-1 victory over Bridgewater State University on Wednesday night at rain-soaked Swenson Field.

The Lyons, who scored all four of their goals in the second half, improve to 5-10 on the season as they snap a six-game losing streak. The Bears fall to 6-8 as their modest three-game winning streak comes to an end.

Junior midfielder Kathryn Jacobson (Norfolk, Mass.) got the Bears on the board in the 25th minute with her third goal of the season. Jacobson scored off the rebound of an Emma Daly (Foxborough, Mass.) deflection that was cleared off the line by a Wheaton defender.

Bridgewater would take the 1-0 lead into the intermission. The Bears outshot the Lyons by a margin of 11-8 over the first 35 minutes.

The Lyons tied the score at 1-1 on a goal by Arkin in the 46th minute. Senior forward Katie Peters (Medway, Mass.) sent a crossing pass across the goal mouth that got through a couple of BSU defenders. Stationed near the far post, Arkin collected the pass and deposited a shot into a wide open net for her fourth goal of the season.

The Bears nearly reclaimed the lead in the 50th minute as sophomore midfielder Jacquelyn Legendre (Westport, Mass.) ripped a shot off the post.

Peters gave the Lyons their first lead of the day in the 63rd minute as she beat the BSU netminder with a backhand shot from ten yards out.

Wheaton extended the advantage to 3-1 less than two minutes later. Junior midfielder Michelle Connolly (Stoughton, Mass.) collected a loose ball in front of the net and slipped a short pass to senior forward Emma Peterson (Yarmouth, Maine) who deposited a shot into the open cage for her third goal of the 2017 campaign.

Arkin scored off the rebound of a Peterson shot in the 69th minute to put the finishing touches on the Lyons' victory. The goal marked Arkin's fourth of the season.

Bridgewater finished with a 23-15 shot advantage, while Wheaton held a 6-5 edge in penalty corner attempts.

Senior goalkeeper Riley Thompson (Fairfield, Conn.) turned aside seven shots to earn her fourth win of the season. The Lyons also received a pair of defensive saves from freshman defender Kenzie Stueve (Arlington, Mass.).

BSU junior Allison Chappell (Raynham, Mass.) played the first half between the pipes for the Bears and did not allow a goal while making one save. Sophomore Jillian Delaney (Foxboro, Mass.) turned aside two shots over the final 35 minutes as she was tagged with the loss.

Prior to the game, BSU seniors Tori O'Dea (South Dennis, Mass.), Katherine McKenna (Wilmington, Mass.) and Janet Maher (Mansfield, Mass.) were honored as they were playing in the final home game of their collegiate careers.

The Bears take on Keene State College in the opening round of the Little East Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon at three. The Lyons wrap up regular season play on Saturday when they host NEWMAC rival Wellesley College at noon.