2005 NCAA MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND - Lyons finish season with 4-1 setback to Keene State

November 12, 2005

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA- The Wheaton College men's soccer team saw its 2005 season come to an end Saturday in a 4-1 loss against Keene State College during an NCAA Division III Tournament first round contest played at Williams College's Cole Field. The Lyons, ranked 25th in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national poll and tied for third in New England, finished 13-5-2, while the Owls, ranked fifth in New England, stayed alive at 13-3-3.

The Lyons, who were making their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and sixth overall, had their eight-game unbeaten streak snapped in falling to 7-4-3 in tournament games. Keene State's victory avenged a 2-1 Wheaton win in the first round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament. Keene State faces Williams tomorrow in the second round, with the winner advancing to next weekend's sectionals.

Keene State scored the lone goal of the first half during the 21st minute on a sequence which included the Owls' first two shots of the contest. Freshman Mike Cooley's (Northborough, MA/Algonquin Regional) initial shot was blocked to the far side, where junior Eric Scott (West Springfield, MA/West Springfield) picked up the loose ball and tipped it into the right side of the net.

A couple strong defensive plays by Wheaton backs and junior keeper David Croft (Cape Elizabeth, ME/Cape Elizabeth) nullified Keene State's remaining first-half chances. During the 32nd minute, the Lyons narrowly missed on their best offensive opportunity after junior Dennis Durao (West Hartford, CT/Northwest Catholic) served to freshman Dan Lane (Dedham, MA/Worcester Academy), who headed a ball to classmate Justin Hart (Ashland, MA/Ashland), but Hart's low shot was just outside the lower left post.

The Owls doubled their lead at 50:06 when Cooley converted a free kick into the lower left past a diving Croft, but Wheaton recorded the quickest response in NCAA Division III Tournament history by scoring just 11 seconds later. After the restart following Cooley's goal, sophomore Trevor Cote (Portsmouth, RI/Providence Country Day School) sent the kickoff into the Keene State end and, after the ball took an awkward hop past an Owl defender, freshman Jeff Shea (Canton, MA/Canton) caught up and chipped a shot over Keene State sophomore keeper Cal Mintz (Westport, CT/Staples).

Just 4:27 later, Keene State first-year Alex Horne (Harvard, MA/Bromfield) netted the first of two goals, converting sophomore Ralph Rocco's (Groton, MA/Groton-Dunstable) helper while being flanked by a Wheaton defender. Horne scored again at 89:16, with junior Nick Trottier (White River Junction, VT/Hartford) assisting.

The Lyons pressed for another tally in the closing minutes on their first two corner kicks of the contest, but both crosses from Durao were corralled as Mintz jumped into traffic just in front of the goal. Croft finished with a career-high seven saves, including five during the second half, while Mintz stopped a pair of shots. Keene State held advantages of 21-19 in shots and 6-2 in corner kicks.

Keene State 4, Wheaton 1
SCORING 1st 2nd Final
Keene State (13-3-3) 1 3 4
Wheaton (13-5-2) 0 1 1

1st Half: KSC- Eric Scott (Mike Cooley) 20:35

2nd Half: KSC- Cooley (unassisted) 50:06; WC- Jeff Shea (Trevor Cote) 50:17; KSC- Alex Horne (Ralph Rocco) 54:44, Horne (Nick Trottier) 89:16

Goalie Saves: WC- David Croft 7; KSC- Cal Mintz 2

Shots: WC- 19; KSC- 21

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