NORTON, Mass. – The number two seed Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer team will host fourth-seeded United States Coast Guard Academy on Sunday, November 8 in the 2026 New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Championship Tournament Championship Game at 1:00 p.m.on Keefe Field in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons are unbeaten in their last six games and in eight of their last nine. Wheaton owns a 10-2-6 overall record and finished 4-1-3 in league play to give it 15 points to earn the second seed in the NEWMAC Tournament. The Lyons, who are ranked 34th in the most recent NPI rankings, defeated number three seed Massachusetts Institute of Technology on November 6, 4-2, and are playing in the NEWMAC title game for the 12th time in school history and for the first time since 2016.
The Bears own a 9-6-4 record and were 3-3-2 in conference play. Coast Guard defeated Emerson College in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals, 2-1, and played top-seeded Babson College to a 1-1 tie, before advancing 5-4 on penalty kicks.
The teams last met on Keefe Field on October 24. Wheaton senior back Owen Kane (Pembroke, Mass.) scored in the 27th minute to give the Lyons a 1-0 lead, before junior forward James Von Dyl (San Diego, Calif.) netted the equalizer for the Bears in the 67th minute. Senior keepers Ty Nolan (Norwich, Vt.) and Nick Phinney (Gorham, Maine) split halves for Wheaton on Senior Day with Nolan making two saves in the first half and Phinney turning away four shots in the second session. Senior goalie Samuel Linkous (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) stopped five tries for Coast Guard.
Tickets for the match can be purchased HERE. The NEWMAC encourages fans to purchase their mobile tickets in advance of the event to streamline the entry process on game day. Spectators may purchase mobile tickets on site, but no cash option will be available. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission. Children 12 and under and NEWMAC students with a valid institutional ID are free and do not need to purchase a mobile ticket.
Wheaton's defense has been a problem for opposing clubs this season, owning a stingy 0.78 goals against average to top the league and rank 31st in the nation. The Lyons have received contributions from four different keepers, who have combined for a .827 save percentage to place the group 19th in the nation and first in the NEWMAC. The Lyons are long on experience and have had the benefit of three outstanding backs in their defensive zone. Kane was a First Team All-Conference selection a year ago and junior Austin Hoadley (South Kent, Conn.) was chosen for the Second Team. They are joined by senior Jacques Violette (Madison, Conn.) to give Wheaton a trio that has started all 18 games this season. Kane has been big on set pieces for the Blue and White with three goals and earned NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Week honors two weeks ago. The Lyons have allowed just 14 goals all season and only three opponents have netted more than one goal in a match against them. Wheaton has scored 23 of its 34 goals in its last nine contests. A big reason for that has been sophomore forward Paco Polo (Madrid, Spain), who has eight goals and an assist in his last nine matches, after attempting just two shots in his first eight games. Polo's emergence as an offensive catalyst has placed him first in the league in goals (eight) and third with 17 points. The addition of Rhatigan also can't be overlooked. The six-foot, five-inch forward missed time early in the season, but has started each of the last 11 games to give the Lyons a big target on set pieces. Sophomore midfielder Vinny McGann (Chelmsford, Mass.) has shown great vision on the field as a distributor with a team-high four assists and has been excellent with his service on corner kicks. Junior forward Charlie Cushing (Eastham, Mass.) has also been a potent offensive threat, when healthy, for Wheaton with four goals and three assists. Senior Avery Dinham's (Coral Springs, Fla.) combination of speed and agility have made him extremely hard for opponents to contain. The Lyons' midfield has been locked down by dynamic senior Ben Kane (Pembroke, Mass.). He is one the league's best players and one of five members of Wheaton's squad to have started all 18 games. He's netted three goals to go with an assist and, like his twin brother, was also tabbed the NEWMAC Athlete of the Week this season, but on offense. Joining Kane is the steady and unflappable senior Camajé Easton-Smith (Hamilton, Bermuda). His decision-making and physical presence has been invaluable for the Lyons. The net has been capably held down by senior Nick Phinney (Gorham, Maine), who leads all conference keepers in goals against average (0.84), save percentage (.826) and shutouts (4). Wheaton has the luxury of a second goalie, who has been outstanding in 559 minutes of action in sophomore Patrick Butler (Glastonbury, Conn.). The second-year goalie has allowed just four markers for a stingy 0.64 goals against mark, while posting a gaudy .852 save percentage.
In 19 games, the Bears have averaged 1.316 goals to place them sixth in the league, while allowing 1.26 markers per outing for a fifth-place ranking in the NEWMAC. USCGA is unbeaten in four of its last five contests and will play for the conference crown for the first time in program history. Coast Guard is led up front by senior midfielder Cole Miller (Annapolis, Md.) who is tied with Polo with eight goals and tied for fifth with four assists. Senior midfielder Andres Villasana (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) and senior back Naveen Jayaram (Tampa, Fla.) have added to the Bears' offense with three goals apiece. Senior back Jack Lopez (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) and senior back Kai Trager (San Clemente, Calif.) have also served as playmakers for the Bears' attack with three assists each. Coast Guard has benefitted from a very experienced and consistent starting 11 all season with 11 players making 13 or more starts during the campaign, including eight seniors. All four of the Bears' defenders, Jayaram, Trager, sophomore back Elliot Belton (Mechanicsville, Va.) and Lopez have logged 1500 or more minutes this season. Senior Michael Porter (Baltimore, Md.) has been a workhorse in the midfield for Coast Guard with a pair of goals in 19 starts. Linkous has been up to the task as well for the Bears, posting a .818 save percentage to rank right behind Phinney among league leaders, while owning a 0.95 goals against mark to stand third in the conference.
