NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's soccer team used a pair of second-half markers to knock off visiting Saint Joseph's College of Maine, 2-0 on Sunday during a constant downpour on a soggy Keefe Field. The Lyons, who are receiving votes from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and are ranked fourth in the New England poll, improved to 13-3-1, while the Monks slipped to 8-6-1.
 
Wheaton has now yielded three goals in the past seven games, while the teams' first meeting resulted in Saint Joseph's playing its ninth straight contest in which either the Monks or their opponent got blanked.
 
Junior Kyle Sye (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxboro Regional) netted the winner, while classmate Josh Solomon (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxboro Regional) added an insurance goal. Between the pipes, junior keeper Cole Davidson (Needham, MA/Salisbury School) made two stops for his second shutout of the weekend. The Lyons outshot the Monks, 28-7, while holding a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Senior Will Pike (Gorham, ME/Gorham) had six saves for the Monks and was helped out by a sixth-minute team save that kept the game scoreless.
 
Wheaton controlled the tempo for much of the contest but was unable to break onto the board during the opening half. Pike stopped Solomon in the 15th minute before making a kick save off a follow-up shot by a Lyon, and Solomon sailed another attempt just over the crossbar on a free kick during the 28th minute.
 
Davidson was tested by the elements in the 40th minute, as a shot by Monk senior Doug MacCallum (Hingham, MA/Hingham) stopped in a puddle inside the box, and the keeper slid out to corral the ball just before a rushing Saint Joseph's player could touch it.
 
Shortly after halftime, Davidson made a diving save toward the left side of the net during the 47th minute, and after a few good opportunities, the Lyons broke the stalemate. With the ball sitting in water at the top of the Saint Joseph's box, two Wheaton attackers and a Monk defender were unable to gain possession, and Sye swooped in before finding the lower left corner beyond a diving Pike at 70:06. It was the midfielder's first tally of the season.
 
During the 83rd minute, sophomore Chris Thomas (Cumberland, ME/Phillips Academy) lined up to take a shot, but his attempt was blocked, and Solomon grabbed the loose ball and netted his sixth marker of the season at 82:14.
 
Saint Joseph's will host in-state rival Southern Maine on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. The Lyons continue their regular-season-ending four-game home swing by completing their non-league slate on Wednesday against Worcester State College at 3:00 p.m.

COURTESY OF WHEATON COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

St. Joseph's (Me.) (8-6-1) vs. Wheaton College (13-3-1)
Date: Oct 18, 2009  Attendance: 75
Weather:

Goals by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
St. Joseph's (Me.)..  0  0 -  0
Wheaton College.....  0  2 -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  70:06 WHE Kyle Sye (1) (unassisted)
  2.  82:14 WHE Josh Solomon (6) (Chris Thomas)

Shots: St. Joseph's (Me.) 7, Wheaton College 28
Saves: St. Joseph's (Me.) 7 (Will Pike 6; TEAM 1), Wheaton College 2
(Cole Davidson 2)