News Release

Mena's First Tally Pushes Lyons to Ninth Straight Semifinal as Wheaton Downs Clark, 1-0

WORCESTER, MA- Wheaton College men's soccer freshman Pablo Mena's (San Salvador, El Salvador/American School of El Salvador) first collegiate tally couldn't have come at a better time, as his second-half goal on Wednesday night stood up as the game-winner in pushing the three-time defending New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament champion and sixth-seeded Lyons to a 1-0 victory over third seed Clark University in an opening-round match at Granger Field.

Wheaton, which avenged its October 18 one-goal loss to the Cougars, advances to its ninth straight semifinal round, where the Lyons will face second seed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a 1-0 winner over number-seven Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Wheaton and the Engineers meet on Saturday at Babson College at 1:30 p.m. Reaching double-figure win totals for the 17th straight year, Wheaton improved to 10-4-4 while raising its series mark against Clark to 14-2-1. The Cougars, who are ranked seventh in the region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), fell to 11-4-2.

Mena, who had assisted game-winning goals against Brandeis University and Springfield College earlier this season, converted his unassisted tally following a scramble in front of the net just 3:11 into the second half. Wheaton's defense, which posted its third straight shutout and has not surrendered a goal during the last 334:06, did its part, as freshman midfielder Chris Thomas (Cumberland, ME/Greely) cleared a Clark attempt off the goal line at the 64:56 mark. The hosts had an ensuing shot go wide just 31 seconds after the save, but it proved to be their final attempt of the contest.

In a first half that witnessed just five shots between the teams, Wheaton knocked on the door early, putting together three corner kicks and a shot through the opening 1:34. The Lyons ripped off six of the game's first seven corners and two of three shots with nearly 20 minutes to play in the opening frame but had nothing to show. The Cougars managed just two shots and a pair of corners in the first half.

Sophomore goalie Cole Davidson (Needham, MA/Salisbury School) didn't record a save in picking up his third consecutive shutout, as just one of Clark's nine shots was on target, while Cougar senior Peter Wise (Providence, RI/Classical) made two saves. The Lyons tallied eight shots and held an 8-5 advantage in corner kicks.

Submitted 2008-11-06 15:35:46 by Wheaton College-MA Sports Information Department

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