NORTON, MA- The second-seeded Wheaton College men's soccer team
notched a 2-1 victory over seventh seed Springfield College during
Wednesday's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
(NEWMAC) Tournament quarterfinal game at Keefe Field. Upping
their record to 17-3-1, the Lyons advance to their 10th straight
semifinal round.
Moving on to Saturday's semifinal round at Babson College, where
it will face the winner of tonight's game between number-three
United States Coast Guard Academy and sixth seed Clark University,
Wheaton, which extended its winning streak to a season-best six
games, is tied for 18th in the country and ranked third in New
England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America
(NSCAA). Springfield ended its season at 5-13-1.
Freshman Cecil Jeffrey (Framingham, MA/Rivers
School) turned in his first career game-winner, coming in
the 75th minute, while junior Yuri Moreira (Marlboro,
MA/Northfield Mount Hermon School) posted his
conference-best 16th goal in the opening half on a long assist from
junior keeper Cole Davidson (Needham, MA/Salisbury
School), who also finished with two stops. Wheaton
held edges of 11-7 in shots and 7-5 in corner kicks.
Springfield freshman Alex Reilly (Ledyard,
CT/Ledyard) provided the tying marker in the 58th minute,
while classmate Chris Walton (Cromwell,
CT/Cromwell) had three saves.
Davidson earned the assist after booting the ball three quarters
of the field to a streaking Moreira, who carried the ball down the
right side before blasting his shot from inside the box into the
upper left netting at 17:27. The Lyons took six of the
first-half's seven shots, with the Pride's lone attempt coming off
a free kick.
After an apparent Wheaton goal was negated due to an offsides
call early in the second frame, Springfield knotted the contest
shortly thereafter. Reilly collected a loose ball in the
middle of the field and outside the box before drilling his shot to
the right side of the target and beyond the reach of a diving
Davidson at 57:39.
With each team playing a man short for the final 31:39 of the
second half, the hosts took the lead for good with 15:16 to
go. From the right end line, freshman Max Swanson
(Lexington, MA/Lexington) broke down a couple of
Springfield defenders before freeing himself for a quick cross to
an oncoming Jeffrey, who tucked away his shot into the lower right
corner of the net at 74:44.
