Lyons improve to 16-13-0 all-time against Beavers

BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Wheaton College men's soccer team snapped a seven-game losing streak against Babson College on Saturday afternoon at Hartwell-Rogers Field with a 2-0 shutout victory in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action.

Wheaton junior Travis Blair (Hastings, N.Y./Hastings) had a goal and an assist, while sophomore Noah Kossoff (New York, N.Y./Birch Wathen Lenox School) provided the game-winner in the 20th minute to keep the Lyons undefeated in NEWMAC play at 3-0-0.

Junior Marlon Ramalho (Framingham, Mass./Bridgton Academy) initiated the first tally for the Blue and White with a cross to Blair from the right wing. Blair followed by playing the ball back across to Kossoff, who lofted a header over Beavers' sophomore goalkeeper Tanner Click (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence) inside the right post at the 19:52 mark.

Three of Babson's best scoring opportunities came in the opening 15 minutes of the match. Wheaton's sophomore goalkeeper Matt Dickey (Newton, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon School) made a pair of big saves, tipping a 15-yard blast from Beavers' senior Mike Fisher (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow) off the top of the crossbar and out of danger just over five minutes into the contest, and then punched away a 20-yard rocket from junior David Abers (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Pine Crest) in the 14th minute.

Blair potted the insurance goal in the 68th minute tying him for first in the NEWMAC with ten markers so far this season. After Babson junior Justin Laurenzo (Park Ridge, N.J./Don Bosco Preparatory) had his header go just over the crossbar off a re-start at 66:49, Blair gained possession just over midfield following a Lyons goal kick and made a long run down the left flank before hitting a low shot that beat Click, who came charging off his line, and deflected off the inside of the right post for a 2-0 lead at 67:33. 

Click, who was making his first collegiate start, finished with one save for Babson, while Dickey made three of his four stops in the first half to post his third shutout of the season for Wheaton. Dickey is now eighth all-time in career wins (12) at Wheaton and nine all-time in shutouts (5).

Both teams finished with ten shots on the afternoon. Additionally, the Lyons held a 5-3 edge in corner kicks. Prior to today's result, five of the last seven matches between the two teams had been decided by one goal. The shutout against Babson also marks the first time the Beavers have been held scoreless at Hartwell-Rogers Field since a 1-0 loss to Bowdoin on September 16, 2012.

Wheaton (9-3-0, 3-0-0 NEWMAC) hosts Trinity on Tuesday, October 8 at 4 p.m. Babson (7-5-0, 1-2-0 NEWMAC) returns to action next Saturday in a 1 p.m. start at Clark.

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