NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Wheaton College men's lacrosse team got off to a slow start at non-league foe Connecticut College on Tuesday afternoon, giving way to eight straight goals to begin the game en route to an 11-5 setback on the Artificial Turf at Silfen Field.
The Lyons dropped their fourth straight game in falling to 2-9, while the Camels, who are receiving votes in the most recent United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) national poll, improved to 6-7.
Senior Bobby Barry (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) scored two times to lead the visitors, classmate Ben Cederberg (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) and junior Charlie Willauer (Duxbury, Mass./Proctor Academy) tacked on a goal and an assist, while junior Billy McNamara (Mansfield, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon School) added two helpers. Freshman Jesse O'Neil (Charlestown, Mass./Boston Latin School) was credited with a season-best 20 saves.
Connecticut College had two players score twice and another two who tallied a goal and two assists. Junior goalie John Lenehan (Hingham, Mass./Loomis Chaffee School) turned aside three first-half shots to collect the win, while two reserve keepers finished out the second frame.
Wheaton trailed the Camels just 1-0 late in the opening quarter until the hosts ripped off four straight goals during a 2:01 span for a 5-0 advantage after one. Connecticut College tacked on three more tallies to open the second period before Landers put the Lyons on the board just 1:18 before the break.
Barry found the back of the net 50 seconds into the third quarter to make the score 8-2, but Wheaton would get no closer, as the Camels netted three goals to capture a commanding 11-2 lead with less than 10 minutes to play. The visitor rounded out the scoring with the game's final three goals during the last 6:16, including Willauer's man-up tally with a minute to go.
The Lyons turn their attention back to the Pilgrim League on Saturday, as they travel to Cambridge to face Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at 1:00 p.m. The top four teams qualify for the league tournament. Wheaton is currently tied with Clark University for fourth.
