Wheaton suffers first NEWMAC loss since 2004 with 1-0 setback at WPI

September 16, 2006

WORCESTER, MA- The nationally-ranked Wheaton College men's soccer team saw its eight-game conference unbeaten streak come to an end with a 1-0 loss to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in each team's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener on Saturday at Alumni Field.

The Lyons, who are ranked sixth nationally and first in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), fell to 4-2 after suffering their second straight 1-0 loss. Wheaton had not lost to a conference foe since the 2004 NEWMAC Tournament, posting a 5-0-1 league mark in 2005 before winning a pair of tournament games. The Engineers remained perfect at 5-0 and picked up their second win in 17 all-time meetings with Wheaton.

WPI junior Brandon Finzel (Northport, NY/Kings Park) tallied the game's lone goal by converting sophomore Chris Lyons' (Jefferson, MA/Saint John's) pass and sending a shot past diving senior keeper Matt Pachniuk (Newtown, CT/Newtown). The marker came after a scramble in front, during which Finzel twice hit the crossbar.

Pachniuk finished with four saves for the Lyons, who held a 13-11 edge in shots, while senior Brian Catalano (Whitinsville, MA/Northbridge) made six stops for the Engineers.

Wheaton returns to the site where it was eliminated from last year's NCAA Tournament when the Lyons take on Williams College tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The Ephs are ranked 19th in the nation and third in the region.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Wheaton (4-2, 0-1) 0 0 0
WPI (5-0, 1-0) 1 0 1

1st Half: WPI- Brandon Finzel (Chris Lyons) 34:15

Goalie Saves: WC- Matt Pachniuk 4; WPI- Brian Catalano 6

Shots: WC- 13; WPI- 11

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