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Wheaton men's soccer extends home opener win streak to 13 following 3-2 overtime victory against SUNY New Paltz
September 1, 2006
NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's soccer team avenged last season's season-opening loss to State University of New York at New Paltz Friday, as the Lyons turned back the Hawks, 3-2 in their opener at Keefe Field. Wheaton has won 13 straight home openers, dating back to head coach Matt Cushing's first season in 1994.
The Lyons, who are receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll, have allowed opponents to score during a home opener only twice since losing their last home opener in 1993.
New Paltz wasted little time on the offensive end to start play, as the Hawks took the opening kick and stormed down the field to score just 18 seconds into the contest. Senior Greg Foss (Queensbury, NY/Lake George) was credited with the unassisted tally. Wheaton responded with the game-tying goal in the 20th minute, as senior Cameron Habib (Norfolk, MA/Bridgton Academy) and sophomore Jeff Shea (Canton, MA/Canton) used a well-executed give-and-go to knot the score, with Shea capitalizing on the play.
Shea had a hand in the Lyons' second-half tally, finding sophomore Dan Lane (Dedham, MA/Worcester Academy) for a 2-1 lead at 63:43. Lane nearly put the game away with a pair of opportunities in the waning minutes of the stanza, but with 2:04 remaining Hawk senior Joseph Fabian (Selden, NY/Newfield) posted the equalizer with a shot over the outstretched reach of Wheaton senior goalkeeper Matt Pachniuk (Newtown, CT/Newtown) to send the game to overtime.
In the extra session, sophomore Justin Hart (Ashland, MA/Ashland) registered the third game-winner of his career on a feed from senior Ariel Tatum (Cayman Islands, BWI/Holderness School). Tatum lifted the ball over the New Paltz defense, allowing Hart to catch up to it and poke his sliding shot over senior keeper Jeffrey Dudley (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill), whose sliding attempt for the save fell just short.
Pachniuk finished with six saves in the victory, while Dudley turned back three Wheaton shots. The Lyons held a slim 14-12 shot advantage and a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
Wheaton remains at home Sunday and will play host to its second straight opponent from out of region against Fontbonne University of Missouri in the teams' first meeting at 1:00 p.m.
SCORING: 1st 2nd OT Final
SUNY New Paltz (0-1) 1 1 0 2
Wheaton (1-0) 1 1 1 3
1st Half: NPU- Greg Foss (unassisted) :18; WC- Jeff Shea (Cameron Habib) 19:42
2nd Half: WC- Dan Lane (Shea) 63:43; NPU- Joseph Fabian (Jason Irish) 87:56
OT: WC- Justin Hart (Ariel Tatum) 93:36
Goalie Saves: WC- Matt Pachniuk 6; NPU- Jeffrey Dudley 3
Shots: WC- 14; NPU- 12
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