News Release

Sixth-Seeded Lyons' Reign Ends with 2-1 Semifinal Loss to Number-Two MIT

BABSON PARK, MA- The sixth-seeded Wheaton College men's soccer team saw its chase for a fourth consecutive New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament title come up short on Saturday, as the Lyons dropped a 2-1 decision in the semifinals to number-two Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at Babson College's Hartwell-Rogers Field.

Wheaton, which held a 36-15 advantage in shots, finished its season with a 10-5-4 record after advancing to its 10th semifinal round in the NEWMAC's 11-year history. The Engineers, who are ranked sixth in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), improved to 16-2-2. MIT plays top-seeded Babson tomorrow for the championship at 1:00 p.m.

The Engineers broke the stalemate after just 2:19, as junior Adam Talsma (Guatemala City, Guatemala/Academia Cristiana de Guatemala) headed home a pass by senior Nitin Perumbeti (Norcross, GA/Norcross). The marker broke Wheaton's NEWMAC Tournament shutout streak at 565:12 dating back to 2005, and the Lyons yielded a goal to MIT after blanking it for the prior 488:23 since 2004.

Wheaton dominated an ensuing 4:09 span, firing off seven consecutive shots by the 13th minute. Senior back Ben Resnicow (Newton, MA/Newton North) hit the crossbar in the ninth minute, and two Lyon tries were turned away by Engineer senior keeper Tom Caldwell (East Berlin, PA/Bermudian Springs).

The Blue and White sent off its eighth straight try in the 18th minute, and sophomore Eric Driscoll (Lexington, MA/Lexington) was denied in the 24th minute when an MIT field player cleared the ball out of harm's way. Late in the stanza, each of three Wheaton shots was stopped by Caldwell in a 2:29 span.

Despite holding a 22-4 advantage in shots and 4-1 edge in corner kicks, the Lyons still trailed by the lone tally at halftime. Wheaton's shot total was just three short of its season high for an entire game, and it was the most fired off by the Lyons in one half since totaling 24 against Rivier College on September 28, 2005.

Wheaton continued to control on the offensive end in the second half, attempting the initial six shots and knotting the contest in the 53rd minute. Sophomore Yuri Moreira (Marlboro, MA/Northfield Mount Hermon School) scored at 52:58 after corralling a Driscoll cross, sending home his 12th marker of the season.

MIT took the lead back in the 61st minute. After totaling four shots in the first 57 minutes, the Engineers doubled that count with four more during a 3:36 span, culminating in the go-ahead marker. After Wheaton sophomore keeper Cole Davidson (Needham, MA/Salisbury School) stopped two shots 42 seconds apart, MIT sophomore Christian Therkelsen (Nesbru, Norway/Nesbru) converted at 60:45 to make it 2-1.

The Lyons' final opportunity of the contest came with 49 seconds left, as sophomore back David Winrow (South Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) hit the crossbar.

Wheaton totaled nine of the game's 12 corner kicks, while Davidson made six saves, including five in the second half. Caldwell tallied all seven of his stops in the first period.

Submitted 2008-11-08 19:08:50 by Wheaton College-MA Sports Information Department

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