SaliSbury• ncaa DiviSion iii Women’S cHampion
relucTanT Hero
Goalie ashton Wheatley, a one-time walk-on, has become Salisbury’s saving grace
BY MARK MACYK A Team mvp
ASHTON WHEATLEY
Wheatley was a field player until high school. It showed. Her athleticism kept Salisbury alive against two of the most potent offenses in D-III. The reigning IWLCA Goalie of the Year made 12 saves in a one-goal semifinal win over Middlebury, followed by nine saves against defending champ Trinity in the final.
52 LACROSSE MAGAZINE July 2013>>
llie Wheatley thought her Salisbury lacrosse days were over after last season’s heartbreaking,
one-goal ncaa championship game loss to Trinity. but she had another year of school to complete and coach Jim nestor wanted her
back — on the sideline.
Wheatley wasn’t so sure about nestor’s offer. “i was mildly depressed,” she said. “i couldn’t go back there and not step on the field. coach kept asking. probably midway through fall ball i said, ‘you know what, coach? i’ll be there.’” nestor’s persistence paid off. With a recent graduate providing a conduit to his players, Salisbury went 23-0 and completed a perfect season with a redemptive 12-5 victory over Trinity in the Division iii final may 19 at Stevenson university. The Sea Gulls owed Wheatley something. She did, after all, provide the foundation for Salisbury’s game-changing player
WINNING PEDIGREE SALISBURY SEA GULLS
RECORD: 23-0 COACH: Jim Nestor (12th year)
UNSUNG HERO | Bethany Baer It’s hard to get noticed when Wheatley anchors one end of the field and Katie Bollhorst and Lauren Feusahrens — with their 176 combined points — light up the other. Baer did everything in between, with 49 draw controls, 25 caused turnovers and 39 ground balls to go with her 56 points.
TURNING POINT | Three-goal run in NCAA semifinals
Salisbury trailed for first time all season. Down 5-3 at halftime against Middlebury, the Sea Gulls came out guns blazing. Katie Haker, Lauren Feusahrens and Maggie Roundy scored in the first nine minutes of the second half. Salisbury eventually advanced thanks to Shelby Nemecek’s late game-winner.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
©SCOTT MCCALL (ALL)
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