NORTON, Mass. – Senior forward Declan Rhatigan (Holderness, N.H.) factored into both goals with a marker and an assist to help the second-seeded Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer team defeat visiting number four seed United States Coast Guard Academy, 2-0, to win the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference championship this afternoon at Keefe Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons win their ninth NEWMAC crown and first since 2013 when they downed Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1-0. The victory earns Wheaton the automatic qualifier for its 12th NCAA Tournament berth. The Lyons will find out who their opponent will be and location of their next contest during tomorrow's NCAA selection show at 11:00 a.m. EST.
The Lyons run their unbeaten streak to seven in a row and improve to 11-2-6 on the season, while the Bears drop to 9-7-4.
The Lyons received a first half goal from sophomore forward Vinny McGann (Chelmsford, Mass.) and a second half insurance marker from Rhatigan, who was named the NEWMAC Championship Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Wheaton held a 12-11 shooting edge for the game, including 6-4 in shots on net, while Coast Guard was awarded six of 10 corner kicks for the match.
The Lyons scored their first marker of the match in the 10th minute of play on a corner kick. Rhatigan served a perfect ball from the left corner flag to the front of the goal line, where McGann came rushing in with a header for his fifth goal of the season just 9:35 into the game.
Wheaton doubled its lead with 20:07 remaining in the contest. Senior midfielder Caleb Cassetta-Waxman (Denver, Colo.) carried the ball to the box area and, despite being harassed by the Coast Guard defense, was able to leave the ball for Rhatigan. The senior did not disappoint, lifting a shot from just outside the box into the upper right corner of the far post for his third tally of the season in the 70th minute for a 2-0 margin.
The Lyons' defense was outstanding all day, limiting the Bears to four harmless shots on frame for the game. Senior keeper Nick Phinney (Gorham, Mass.) turned away all four shots he faced to record his fifth shutout of the season and eighth of his career.
Senior midfielder Cole Miller (Annapolis, Md.) paced the Coast Guard offense with three shots and senior goalie Samuel Linkous (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) made four saves.
