Wildcats begin season against Benedictine, Chiesa posts 19 stops
BOSTON, MA - The Wheelock College women's soccer team opened its season on Monday by playing the first of six consecutive home contests, as the Wildcats dropped a 5-0 decision to Benedictine (Ill.) University at Winsor Field. The Eagles improved to 1-2.
Junior Alexandra Chiesa (Medford, MA/Medford) collected 19 saves for the hosts, including a dozen in the second half alone, to limit further opportunities for the visitors' offense. Freshman Stephanie Isabelle (Granby, MA/Granby) nearly broke Wheelock on the board in the 73rd minute, sending a ball from the left post across the goal mouth and beyond the far post.
For Benedictine, freshman Nikki Jhanji (Orland Park, IL/Sandburg) recorded two goals and two assists, while senior Carly Madison (Loves Park, IL/Harlem) scored twice with a helper. Junior Manpreet Kaur (Romeoville, IL/Argo) did not make a save while collecting the clean sheet.
Chiesa was tested early on, corralling a 20-yard blast by Madison in the opening minute before rushing out of her net to tip away a high, bouncing ball soon thereafter. Following a scramble in front of the net, Madison deposited her winner at the 7:45 mark, lofting a shot beyond Chiesa's reach. The keeper limited the Eagles to the one tally during nearly the first third of the game, later sliding out and getting much of Jhanji's shot on her 30th-minute goal.
Benedictine, which employed 21 players during the contest, stretched its lead with two goals in a 3:22 stretch early in the second half before tacking on an 86th-minute marker against the Wildcats, who had two subs at their disposal.
Wheelock continues a season-opening run of three games in five days by hosting Eastern Nazarene College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
