BABSON PARK, Mass. — Senior midfielder Camajé Easton-Smith (Hamilton, Bermuda) netted the only goal of the match to give the No. 8 Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over host Babson College this afternoon in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play at Hartwell-Rogers Field in Babson Park, Mass.
The Lyons, who are ranked in the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll, remain unbeaten through 17 matches and improve to 13-0-4 overall and 6-0-1 in league play. The Beavers fall to 8-6-3 and 4-2-1.
The win clinches the top seed in the upcoming NEWMAC Championship Tournament for Wheaton and gives the Blue and White their first regular-season conference crown since 2014. The result snaps Babson's streak of 20 consecutive home wins over conference opponents, dating back to October 23, 2021 when the Beavers were nipped by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1-0. The triumph is also the first for the Lyons over Babson since a 2-1 victory in the NEWMAC Semifinals on November 5, 2016 to end a string of 11 matches without a tie or a win, that included four NEWMAC Tournament defeats. Wheaton's 13 wins this season mark its highest total since the Lyons put together a 17-4-2 campaign in 2014.
Wheaton held a 13-10 shot advantage for the game, including a dominant 8-2 margin in shots on frame. The Lyons owned a 5-3 difference in corner kicks.
The Lyons tallied the only score of the match off a corner kick. Senior Aidan Doyle (Kingston, Mass.) played the ball short to Easton-Smith outside of the top left corner of the box. Easton-Smith lifted a shot from beyond the box that sailed over the head of a pair of Wheaton teammates in the goalmouth and also past the Babson keeper and into the back of the right side of the net in the 14th minute of play. The goal was the first collegiate score for Easton-Smith and also ended the Beavers' streak of 12 straight home shutouts against NEWMAC foes.
Babson's first real opportunity to get on the board came with 7:47 left in the opening half when McKenzy Pierre (West Orange, N.J.) raced into the box on a breakaway, but Lyon junior defender Thomas Corridon (Westport, Conn.) was able to alter the attempt from behind and senior Wheaton keeper Michael O'Gara (Ardmore, Pa.) came off his line to meet Pierre to mitigate the try.
The Lyons threatened to double their lead just minutes after Easton-Smith's strike when sophomore forward Gael Vera (Westminster, Mass.) carried the ball into the left slot, before firing a shot ticketed for the far post. Beaver sophomore goalie JB Montaque (Lutz, Fla) was able to deny the attempt with a diving stop to his left.
Babson had one final chance with a free kick from just outside the box with 18 ticks remaining on the game clock, but junior midfielder Will Lloyd's (Lexington, Mass.) shot was lifted wide left, leaving Wheaton with the win.
O'Gara finished the contest with two saves to earn his sixth shutout of the season and 23rd career blank sheet to tie with Matt Dickey '16 for third on the Lyons' all-time list, while moving into eighth with 164 lifetime saves and fifth with 4504:26 career minutes played. Montaque ended the afternoon with seven stops for the Beavers. Pierre, Lloyd and senior back Joao Araujo (Boca Raton, Fla.) each fired a pair of shots to pace the home team's offensive effort.
Wheaton wraps up its regular season with a Senior Day match on Saturday, November 1 at 2:00 p.m. on Keefe Field with NEWMAC rival Springfield College, while Babson heads to New London, Conn. to take on league foe United States Coast Guard Academy on the same day at 12:00 p.m.
