Four Lyons earn NEWMAC men's soccer all-conference honors, Greenslit and Lane corral major individual awards

November 8, 2005

WORCESTER, MA- Four Wheaton College men's soccer players were voted to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-Conference teams Tuesday at the postseason meeting held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Senior back James Greenslit (Framingham, MA/Rivers School) earned NEWMAC Player of the Year for the second straight season, and freshman forward Dan Lane (Dedham, MA/Worcester Academy) was named the conference's top rookie.

Greenslit and Lane also earned all-conference first team citations, while junior keeper Matt Pachniuk (Newtown, CT/Newtown) and sophomore midfielder Trevor Cote (Portsmouth, RI/Providence Country Day School) garnered second-team selections. Greenslit grabbed a spot on the first team for the third consecutive fall, while Pachniuk earned his second all-league honor.

This marked the seventh time in eight seasons a Lyon was named the league's top player, and Lane became the second Wheaton player to corral rookie-of-the-year honors, joining 2001 winner Barry Finnerty '05. Greenslit joins Shaun Cavanaugh '03 as the only two-time NEWMAC Player of the Year.

Greenslit and Pachniuk have been the catalysts for Wheaton's record-setting defense this season, as the Lyons have posted a 0.62 goals against average and allowed just 12 goals, both of which would be program marks, and their .865 save percentage would be second. Wheaton also has 10 shutouts heading into the NCAA Tournament this weekend. Pachniuk is 10-4-2 with six shutouts, a 0.74 GAA and .848 save percentage, while Greenslit picked up both of his assists in the Lyons' NEWMAC Tournament championship game victory.

Lane put together one of the most prolific offensive seasons in program history and broke the school's goals and points records for a freshman. His 13 markers are tied for fifth in a season at Wheaton, and Lane is one point shy of becoming the ninth Lyon with 30 points. Lane has played a hand in 16 of the Blue and White's 34 goals. He has netted seven go-ahead goals, five of which held up as game-winners, while assisting on two game-winning tallies. Lane has been held without a point only five times this season and recorded a seven-game points streak during the middle of the season.

Cote has provided Wheaton with a strong midfield presence, starting 18 games while recording three goals and two assists. Two of Cote's tallies came in big games, as the Lyons hosted Williams College, tied for sixth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll at the time, in September before tying Clark University during an important October NEWMAC contest. He also registered assists during Wheaton's NEWMAC Tournament semifinal and championship game victories.

Wheaton is enjoying one of its best seasons with a 13-4-2 record, as the Lyons are returning to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season, the fifth time in six years and the sixth time overall. Wheaton will travel to Williams College this weekend to take on Keene State College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday at 1:30 p.m. A victory would propel the Lyons into the tournament's second round on Sunday.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 11/8/05.
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