SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer team posted its seventh shutout of the season in a 0-0 draw at host Springfield College this afternoon in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play at Brock-Affleck Field in Springfield, Mass.

The Lyons are now 6-5-5 overall and 1-2-3 in league play, while the Pride are 5-7-3 and 3-2-1. 

Wheaton dominated possession with a 20-8 shot advantage, including 9-0 in shots on net. The Lyons also held an 8-6 margin in corner kicks.

Junior keeper Michael O'Gara (Ardmore, Pa.) was untested in earning his seventh blank sheet of the year and the 17th of his career for Wheaton, while junior goalie Noah Pote (Washington, Conn.) made eight saves to pick up his second shutout of the season and 10th of his tenure at Springfield.

The Lyons threatened early in the match to get on the board in the sixth minute of play. First year forward Gael Vera (Westminster, Mass.) fired a shot from the left side of the box that Pote had to leap for and snared the ball out of the air.

Vera being in the middle of Wheaton's offensive pressure proved to be a theme throughout the match for the Lyons. Senior forward Alasdair Ferrier (Concord, N.H.) sent a lead cross up the right side, where Vera collected the ball in stride at the top right corner of the box, before firing a low shot that Pote was able to thwart in the box after coming off his line with 16:17 left in the match. 

Wheaton's pressure continued in the remaining minutes. Vera served a cross to first year back Austin Hoadley (South Kent, Conn.) on the left post, but Pote was able to meet the ball at the same time and mitigate the potency of the offensive push to keep the ball out of the net with 13:12 showing on the second half clock.

The Lyons final threat to score came with less than five minutes to play in the game. Vera chipped a high cross into the goalmouth, where Ferrier was waiting with a header, but Pote was able to come away with the stop with 4:49 remaining in the game.

Vera, Ferrier and Hoadly all finished the match with three total shots, including two on frame for Wheaton, while junior midfielder Parker Thornton (Malden, Mass.), sophomore midfielder Connor Policarpio (Bristol, Conn.) and first year defender Ayaan Ahmad (West Springfield, Mass.) each attempted a pair of shots for the Pride.

The Lyons return to action on Wednesday, October 30 when they host NEWMAC foe Salve Regina University at 3:00 p.m. on Keefe Field, while Springfield heads to Framingham, Mass. on October 26 for a 7:00 p.m. contest with Framingham State University.