NORTON, Mass. – First year midfielder Colin Dickinson (Danbury, Conn.) scored the only marker of the day, in the eighth minute of the game, to give the No. 7 Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over visiting Western Connecticut State University this afternoon on Keefe Field in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons, who are ranked in the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll, improve to 1-0-1 on the season and are unbeaten in 27 of their last 29 games, dating back to 2024. The Wolves slip to 1-1-2.
Wheaton held a slim 13-12 shot advantage, but WestConn owned a 5-4 edge in shots on goal. The Wolves also boasted a 2-1 margin in corner kicks.
Sophomore back Paco Polo (Madrid, Spain) gained control of the ball on the right side of WestConn's backfield, before playing the ball to junior midfielder Charlie Cushing (Eastham, Mass.). Cushing played the ball back to senior midfielder Ben Kane (Pembroke, Mass.), who sent a one-touch short cross to his right, leading Dickinson for a right-footed shot into the right corner for his first collegiate goal just 7:01 into the match. The goal was the first of the season for the Lyons, who posted a 0-0 draw in their opening-season contest last Friday at Colby.
The Wolves' best scoring opportunity came with just over a minute remaining in the first half. Senior midfielder Lucas Fernandez (Stamford, Conn.) sent a long lead cross from midfield to junior forward Demani Gordon (Bronx, N.Y.) in stride. Gordon carried the ball into the box and drew Wheaton's keeper into a one-on-one situation, but his ground strike went wide of the far right post to keep the host team's lead intact.
Sophomore keeper Patrick Butler (Glastonbury, Conn.) recorded his second blank sheet in as many games for the Lyons, while sophomore goalie Makai Smith (Bridgeport, Conn.) stopped three shots for WestConn. Sophomore midfielder Jokin Martinez (Jamaica, N.Y.) paced the Wolves' offense with three shots, including a pair on frame.
Wheaton returns to the pitch on Wednesday, September 9 when it hosts Western New England University at 4:00 p.m. on Keefe Field, while WestConn hosts Ramapo College on the same day at 6:00 p.m.
