WORCESTER, Mass. – The No. 21 Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer team played host Worcester Polytechnic Institute to a 0-0 draw this afternoon in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play on Alumni Field in Worcester, Mass.
The Lyons, who are ranked in the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll, extend their unbeaten streak to six straight (3-0-3) and set their record at 6-3-4 overall and 1-0-2 in league play, while the Engineers, who received votes in the most recent USC poll are now 7-2-4 and 0-0-4.
Wheaton's unbeaten streak is its longest stretch without a loss since a seven-game string from October 8 to November 5, 2016. The Lyons have spun six blank sheets in a row for the longest streak in school history and have not allowed a marker since September 17 at No. 19 Bowdoin College, a span of 570:24.
WPI owned a 14-8 shot advantage, including 10-4 in the second half and out-shot Wheaton, 6-2 in shots on goal. The Lyons were awarded seven corner kicks, while the Engineers tallied two.
Wheaton junior keeper Michael O'Gara (Ardmore, Pa.) made six saves to record his sixth shutout of the season and 16th of his career to break a tie and put him fifth on the school's all-time career shutout list. Junior midfielder Joey Everett (Danbury, Conn.) paced the Lyons' offense with three shots, including one on frame.
WPI rookie goalkeeper, Savio Ketnouvong (Paxton, MA), needed one save to pick up his third shutout of the season. Graduate student forward Aaron Vaz (Medford, MA) notched three shots, including two on goal to lead the home team's offense.
The visitors had a slight edge in the first half, out-shooting WPI, 4-3. Early action saw O'Gara make a save on an attempt from Vaz in the sixth minute, while Ketnouvong kept it scoreless with a save of his own in the ninth minute.
After a pair of 44th-minute WPI attempts were thwarted, Wheaton had perhaps the best opportunity of the game, as junior midfielder Baden McLaughlin (Yarmouth, ME) sent a shot that appeared to be heading towards the goal. However, Engineer graduate student back Mason Perham (Hampden, MA) cleared the ball off the line to send the game into the half still scoreless.
WPI dominated possession in the second half, however, both team's defenses stood firm. The Engineers' best chances came in the final minute of play, as a first year midfielder Mike Montabana's (Jamison, PA) attempt was saved by O'Gara and Vaz's final shot went wide, as the final horn sounded at 0-0.
The Lyons return to play on Saturday, October 19 when they host NEWMAC rival Babson College on Keefe Field at 2:00 p.m., while WPI heads to Castine, Maine to take on Maine Maritime Academy on October 16 at 4:00 p.m.
