SALEM, Mass. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer team was edged by host Salem State University, 1-0, this evening at Alumni Field in Salem, Mass.
The Lyons slip to 2-3-5 on the season, while the Vikings, who are ranked sixth in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Region II poll, improve to 7-2-2.
Wheaton has allowed one goal or less in nine of its 10 matches this season, while Salem State has also been stingy allowing more than one score just oncel this season.
The Lyons owned a 17-7 shot advantage and had multiple scoring opportunities, but was not able to connect with the back of the net. The Vikings managed to direct all of its shots on frame. Wheaton doubled up on Salem State with a 4-2 margin on corner kicks.
The Vikings tallied the lone marker of the match with a perfectly lifted ball from the right sideline to inside the box for the score. First year defender Kyle Lobao (Peabody, Mass.) sent the centering cross to junior midfielder Brendan Walsh (Westfield, Mass.), who converted with a header for his first goal of the season with 26:26 remaining in the contest.
The Lyons looked to get the equalizer in the 68th minute when first year Camaje Easton-Smith (Hamilton, Bermuda) lined up a free kick from just outside the top of the box and fired a shot that careened off the right post.
Wheaton also had opportunities to score in the first stanza as well. Senior forward Alberto Franceschi (Caracas, Venezuela) fired a shot in the 22nd minute that beat the Salem State keeper, but senior defender Michael Flynn (Dedham, Mass.) was there to deny the attempt with a slide, before kicking it away. Junior forward Alasdair Ferrier (Concord, N.H.) looked to score just under three minutes later, but his point-blank shot was turned away by the Vikings' keeper.
Senior midfielder Gavin Mahoney (Carlsbad, Calif.) also had a chance, but his shot was stopped by the post in the 33rd minute of the opening half.
Ferrier finished the match with four shots, including three on frame for Wheaton.
Junior keeper Christopher Housel (Essex Fells, N.J.) recorded six saves for the Lyons, while the appropriately named Salem State goalie Matt Hauntsman (Milford, N.H.) stopped all 10 shots he faced to register his fourth shutout of the season and 18th career blank sheet.
Wheaton returns to the pitch on Saturday, October 7 when it hosts Worcester Polytechnic Institute in a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference match on Keefe Field at 2:00 p.m., while the Vikings host Bridgewater State University at the same time on the same day.
