NEWPORT, R.I. – The No. 13 Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer team came away with a 2-0 victory over host Salve Regina University this afternoon in the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference opener at Toppa Field in Newport, R.I.
The Lyons, who are ranked in the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll, extend their unbeaten streak to seven and improve to 6-0-1 overall, including 1-0 in league play, while the Seahawks fall to 1-2-2 and 0-1.
Wheaton controlled possession with a 20-8 advantage in shots, including 12-2 in shots on frame. The Lyons were awarded six corner kicks, while Salve Regina received one opportunity form the corner flag.
Wheaton scored one goal in each half. The first marker came in the opening half when the Lyons created a turnover in the midfield, before senior back Kevin Morse (Acton, Mass.) carried the ball into the Seahawks' defensive zone. Morse slid a cross from the middle of the box to classmate Baden McLaughlin (Yarmouth, Maine) on the left side of the box, where he fired a shot into the far right post for his third marker of the season and a 1-0 Wheaton lead in the 37th minute of play.
Wheaton's final goal opportunity was created off the punt from senior keeper Michael O'Gara (Ardmore, Pa.), who's boot from his own net sailed into the Salve Regina defensive zone, where junior forward Declan Rhatigan (Holderness, N.H.) flicked the ball with his head to first year forward Gael Vera (Westminster, Mass.) on the right side of the box. Vera made a move with the ball, before taking a shot that was blocked by a defender, but Vera took the rebound and zipped a shot into the far right post for his second score of the season to double the Lyons' lead with just 4:28 to play in the contest.
O'Gara finished the afternoon with two saves to record his first blank sheet of the season and the 18th shutout of his career for Wheaton.
Junior back Aiden Crean (Glastonbury, Conn.) paced the Seahawks' offense with a pair of shots, while sophomore goalie Nick Giorgi (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) made 10 saves for Salve Regina.
The Lyons return to action on Wednesday, September 24 when they travel to Waltham, Mass. to take on Brandeis University at 4:00 p.m., while the Seahawks host Roger Williams University on September 21 at 2:00 p.m.
