Nov 28, 2007 Program-Best Five Wheaton Women's Soccer Players to Compete in NEWISA Senior Bowl NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College women's soccer team will have a
program-best and game-high five players attend Sunday morning's New
England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) Senior
Bowl at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The
contest is scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. start.
Back Erin Davis (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow),
midfielder Ashley Furr (Chicopee, MA/Cathedral),
forward Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross),
goalkeeper Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown,
MA/Belchertown) and back Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket,
MA/Falmouth) will represent the Lyons.
The Senior Bowl consists of two teams with players from NCAA
Divisions I, II and III. Wheaton's five players were more
than twice as many as the closest school, and the Lyons comprised
all but two of the seven selected New England Women's and Men's
Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) players.
Davis helped lead the Blue and White to one of its most successful
seasons in school history, anchoring a defense with a 0.37 goals
against average, which ranked eighth nationally through contests of
November 18. Starting in 21 of her 22 games, Davis played an
integral role on a defense that yielded just nine goals with 16
shutouts. She also had a significant impact on Wheaton's
high-powered offense, finishing fourth on the team in scoring with
22 points. Davis' 14 assists were first on the squad, second
in the league and tied for third in team history. She was
named NEWMAC Player of the Year and to the all-league first
team. Davis finished her Wheaton career ranked seventh in
career assists with 32.
In 24 games and 19 starts, Furr contributed four goals and eight
assists for 16 points to go alongside one game-winning goal.
Her assist total tied for fourth on the squad and tied for sixth in
the NEWMAC. Furr will leave Wheaton among the all-time
leaders in assists and points, tying for ninth with 30 helpers
while ranking 10th with 68 points.
Konopka also made her mark in the Wheaton annals as one of the top
forwards to come through the program, finishing her career fifth in
points with 118, tied for fifth in goals at 42 and sixth in assists
with 34. She is one of just seven Lyons to surpass the
100-point plateau. Despite an injury-plagued senior season,
Konopka tallied 10 points on two goals and six assists.
Kronenberg, who is one of two Division III keepers playing in the
NEWISA Senior Bowl, was nearly perfect on the season after
surrendering just three goals in over 920 minutes of action.
In 10 starts and 19 games altogether, she posted an 11-0-1 record
and 0.29 GAA. After a stellar four-year career, Kronenberg
stands first at Wheaton in career shutouts with 28 and third in
wins at 56.
Transitioning to the defensive end of the field after three years
as a forward, Rabesa still managed to join the 100-point club
thanks to her hat trick on October 23. Despite playing as a
back through most of the fall, Rabesa finished third on the team in
scoring with 26 points on nine goals and eight assists in 20
starts. Named to the all-league first team, she completed her
Wheaton career ranked fifth in assists with 35, tied for sixth in
points at 107 and seventh in goals with 36.
The Lyons went unbeaten through 23 games before falling in the NCAA
Tournament's second round, capping their eighth straight tourney
appearance with a 22-1-1 record. Wheaton won its ninth
straight NEWMAC regular season title and seventh tournament crown,
extending the nation's longest active conference unbeaten streak to
88 games, as the Blue and White posted a 9-0 league mark this fall.
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