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)