NORTON, Mass. – Wheaton College junior Matthew Hillman (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) registered his fourth career four-goal game and senior goalkeeper Harrison Bramhall (Barrington, R.I./Trinity Pawling) compiled six saves in a scoreless first half to lead the Lyons past Curry College on Wednesday evening in non-conference action on the first-ever lacrosse game played at Diane Nordin '80 Athletic Field in the season opener for both squads.
Nordin Field is named after Diane C. Nordin '80, who provided the lead gift to fund the project. Nordin's gift will benefit several members of the Wheaton community including the field hockey, men's and women's lacrosse and men and women's soccer programs, intramurals, club and recreational sports and other members of the surrounding community.
Bramhall, who can forever claim the honor of having scored the first-ever lacrosse goal on Nordin Field in Wheaton College men's or women's lacrosse program history, finished with four markers on nine shots including seven on goal to go along with three ground balls. Freshman Will Morrison (Osterville, Mass./Salisbury School) added two goals, while classmates Ryan Gjerset (Austin, Texas/St. Michael's Catholic Academy) and Devin Higgins (Nantucket, Mass./Nantucket) and senior Cam Hanlon (Hanson, Mass./BC High) all found the back of the net once.
Senior midfielder Colby Shields (Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth) engineered the Blue and White's offense with a career-high four assists. Gjerset also picked up his first career helper on Hillman's third marker of the game in the second period with 33-seconds remaining on the scoreboard.
Curry senior midfielder Harrison Foster (Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands) tallied both goals for the Colonels, all coming in the third period at 10:28 and 2:05 (man-up). Junior Ronald Jensen (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville Community) grabbed an assist on Foster's finally tally feeding the ball from the top of the zone to the left wing.
Wheaton sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Clair (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School) turned in a career-high nine stops in 30 minutes of action off the bench. Curry sophomore goalkeeper Timothy McNair (Wilmette, Ill./Kimball Union Academy) came away with a game-high 17 saves in the loss.
Lyons' sophomore face-off specialist Paul Gray (Danbury, Conn./Millbrook School) went 8-for-14 at the X and scooped up a team-high six ground balls. The hosts went on to secure a 43-39 advantage in that category along with a 17-22 differential in clear attempts (.773) and a 4-for-6 showing with an extra attacker.
Wheaton (1-0) bumped its record against Curry (0-1) to 5-2 overall in the all-time series which dates back to 1992. The Lyons last meeting prior to today came in 1997, a 21-6 victory for Wheaton. (Game Recap Courtesy of Wheaton Sports Information)