Lyons rally with two goals in 3:08; Wheaton pins 2-1 loss on Salve Regina

NORTON, Mass.- The Wheaton College field hockey team scored twice during a 3:08 span of the second half, overcoming an early deficit against Salve Regina University before holding on for a 2-1 win on Tuesday in each team's season opener at Clark Field. The contest was the sixth straight meeting decided by one goal, and it marked the sixth straight season the Lyons opened against the Seahawks.

Juniors Margaux Bolte (Belmont, Mass) and Jessica Strock (Centerville, Mass.) each scored for the Lyons, while senior Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, Mass.) made six saves. Wheaton outshot the visitors, 23-8 and held a 15-4 advantage on penalty corners.

For Salve Regina, senior Devin Eppley (Darien, Conn.) recorded 11 saves, while freshman Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) scored 6:39 into the contest to give the visitors an edge.

In the seventh minute of the game, Bagley denied junior Lindsey Burt (Hopedale, Mass.) with a blocker save before Burke pounced on the rebound and found the back of the net. Those proved to be the Seahawks' only two shots until they missed a penalty stroke with 1:11 remaining in the opening stanza, as the try went high and wide left.

Eppley denied back-to-back Wheaton shots off a penalty corner nearly 15 minutes into the game before the hosts broke on the board during the second half. After a flurry in front of the net following a penalty corner entry pass, Strock gathered a rebound and tallied at 45:27. It was her first marker since 2007 after missing all but last season's opener with an injury.

A little more than three minutes later, sophomore Emily Asack (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) pushed a pass to the top of the circle, where Bolte connected and sent a shot past Eppley at 48:35.

Salve Regina returns to action on Thursday against Framingham State College at 4 p.m. on Lawrence Avenue Field.

Courtesy of Wheaton sports information