BOSTON, Mass. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer team was defeated by host Emerson College, 2-0, this evening in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play at Rotch Field in Boston, Mass.
The Lyons, who received votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll, dip to 6-5-4 overall and 1-2-2 in league play, while the Lions improve to 5-8-2 and 1-3-1.
Wheaton held a 14-6 shot advantage, but just one attempt was on frame, while Emerson put four on net, including the two scores.
Senior forward Theodore Bushara (New York, N.Y.) and junior back Kyler Maira (Acton, Mass.) each netted a goal for the Lions.
Emerson sophomore defender Ethan Minster (Wenham, Mass.) threaded a cross through three Lyon defenders to Bushara in the middle of the box. The senior fired a high shot over the Wheaton keeper to give the Lions a 1-0 edge in the seventh minute of play.
The Lions doubled their lead in the 21st minute of the opening half when the Lyon keeper raced off his line to challenge for the ball near the top-right corner of the box, but Maira eluded the slide and fired a shot into the open net from the right side into the far left corner for a 2-0 margin.
Wheaton's best opportunity to get on the board came in the 74th minute when junior midfielder Aidan Doyle (Kingston, Mass.) took a free kick from the right side just ahead of midfield. He sent a long serve to the left post, where senior back Ryan Bell (Berwyn, Pa.) settled the ball and fired a point-blank shot on frame, but Emerson sophomore keeper Beckett Hobbs (Issaquah, Wash.) was there for the stop to keep the home team's shutout intact.
Sophomore midfielder Declan Rhatigan (Holderness, N.H.) led Wheaton's offensive effort with four shots.
Junior goalie Michael O'Gara (Ardmore, Pa.) made two saves for the Lyons, while Hobbs turned away a shot for the Lions to register his second shutout of the season and third of his career.
Wheaton returns to action on Saturday, October 26 when it travels to Springfield, Mass. to take on conference rival Springfield College at 4:00 p.m., while Emerson heads to Newport, R.I. on the same day to play NEWMAC foe Salve Regina University at 5:30 p.m.
