News Release

Wheaton Women's Soccer Quartet Lands on Pair of All-Region Teams

NORTON, MA- For the sixth time in eight years, the Wheaton College women's soccer team had at least four athletes earn all-region honors from both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA), as one junior and three sophomores drew laurels for the 2008 season.

Sophomore Alessia Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) landed on the NSCAA/adidas All-New England first team and was selected for the NEWISA all-region third team, while junior co-captain Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) and sophomore Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols) earned spots on each organization's second team. Sophomore Emily Hough (Norwich, VT/Hanover) was an NSCAA second-team pick and was named to NEWISA's third team.

Viscomi was one of three first-team defenders selected by the NSCAA and headlined a quartet that led Wheaton to a share of its 10th straight New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season crown. The four were among nine NEWMAC players to earn a spot on one of the four NSCAA squads and one of the three NEWISA teams.

By being selected to the NSCAA first squad, Viscomi extended Wheaton's streak of landing a defender on the first team to nine years. In drawing her second NSCAA honor, Viscomi earned her initial NEWISA accolade. She started all 23 contests in which she played in 2008 while anchoring a defense that yielded only 18 goals and posted 13 shutouts. Viscomi netted her lone goal during a NEWMAC Tournament semifinal against Cark University, tallying the only marker of the game in the 89th minute to send Wheaton to its 10th straight championship match.

McManus drew her second NEWISA accolade and first NSCAA honor, starting 22 contests and appearing as a reserve in the other two. In addition to scoring twice, McManus tied for second on the team with six assists, helping on four game-winning markers. On the defensive end, she played a major role in Wheaton yielding one goal or less during 18 contests.

Alvarez, who was also honored by both organizations last year, led the NEWMAC with 14 goals despite not appearing in seven games. Four went as game-winners, and she provided another marker late in regulation at Springfield College in the NEWMAC Tournament final that forced overtime. Alvarez scored in 11 different games, providing a hat trick at Husson University on September 20. She is seventh in school annals in career goals (37) and eighth in points (81).

In drawing her second NEWISA nod and first NSCAA award, Hough led the NEWMAC in points (37) and assists (11) while placing second in goals (13) and tying for second in game-winning tallies (5) despite missing two games. At one point, Hough played a hand in 15 of 21 Wheaton goals, and she twice had a hat trick. Hough enters her junior year 10th in program history in each career points (77) and goals (27).

Wheaton completed the season at 16-6-2, including 7-1-1 in the NEWMAC, while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth straight season.

Submitted 2008-12-23 12:48:53 by Wheaton College-MA Sports Information Department

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