BRISTOL, R.I. — The No. 24 Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer team was edged by host Roger Williams University, 1-0, this afternoon on Bayside Field in Bristol, R.I.
The Lyons slip to 3-2-1, while the Hawks improve to 4-1-1.
Roger Williams owned a 10-8 shot advantage, including 7-3 in the second half. Wheaton edged the Hawks in corner kicks, 5-4.
The lone goal of the afternoon came in the middle of the second half for Roger Williams.
First year back Cole Merriam (Haddam, Conn.) sent a long serve from the left sideline into the box, where sophomore forward Ollie Hamilton (North Chittenden, Vt.) was able to direct a header into the left corner of the net in the 69th minute for the only marker of the game for the Hawks.
The Lyons threatened to get on the board within the first two minutes of the game. First year forward Gael Vera (Westminster, Mass.) received a long serve from the back field and took the ball into open space, before dribbling to the near right post, but Roger Williams senior keeper Hogan Cain (Nottingham, N.H.) came off his line to meet the ball to prevent the rookie from getting all of his foot on the ball for a quality shot.
Sophomore forward Avery Dinham (Coral Springs, Fla.) also made a scoring bid for Wheaton. The second-year player fired a shot from the left side of the box with a tight angle, but Cain made a diving stop to keep the game scoreless with just 2:27 left in the opening half.
The Hawks looked to break the scoreless tie within the first five minutes of the second half as well. Sophomore forward Dylan Thomas (Norwalk, Conn.) received the ball and took it to the right post, before unleashing a shot that sophomore goalie Nick Phinney (Gorham, Maine) was able to deny with a dive to his left.
Phinney finished the match with three saves in his first collegiate start for the Lyons, while senior forward Alasdair Ferrier (Concord, N.H.) paced the offense with a pair of shots.
Cain turned away three shots for Roger Williams to record his fourth shutout of the season and 11th of his career.
Wheaton returns to action on Tuesday, September 17 when it travels to Brunswick, Maine to take on Bowdoin College at 7:00 p.m., while the Hawks head to Babson Park, Mass. on the same day to play Babson College at 4:00 p.m.
