Bowdoin snaps Lyons' eight-game unbeaten streak with eighth shutout

October 16, 2006

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's soccer team saw its eight-game unbeaten streak come to an end Monday afternoon, as Bowdoin College scored a pair of second-half goals over a 6:07 span en route to a 2-0 non-conference victory in a battle of regionally-ranked squads at Keefe Field.

The Lyons, who entered the game tied for 10th in New England according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), lost at home for just the fifth time in the last 37 games at Keefe. Wheaton is now 9-4-3 on the season. The Polar Bears, who recorded their eighth shutout of the season while playing in their 10th straight shutout game of the fall, improved to 9-2. Bowdoin is ranked sixth regionally.

Bowdoin freshman Tom Wakefield (Grand Rapids, MI/Forest Hills North) broke the scoreless game in the 75th minute for what went down as the game-winner and his first collegiate goal, while junior Nick Figueiredo (Wilmington, MA/Saint John's Prep) padded the Polar Bear lead with a tally from senior Anthony Regis (Topsfield, MA/Saint John's) in the 81st minute.

During a seesaw opening half that witnessed five shots apiece and one Wheaton corner kick, the hosts had the best scoring opportunity at 26:52. After senior Dennis Durao (West Hartford, CT/Northwest Catholic) was taken down in the box, sophomore Dan Lane (Dedham, MA/Worcester Academy) stepped up for the penalty kick. On the ensuing chance, Lane directed his shot to the lower corner of the target, but Bowdoin junior keeper Nathan Lovitz (Fairfield, ME/Lawrence) made the right read and knocked the ball out of bounds for the half's lone corner.

Lovitz also came up big in the second stanza, denying a shot from senior Cameron Habib (Norfolk, MA/Bridgton Academy) with just over 27 minutes left. Four minutes later, Wheaton senior keeper Matt Pachniuk (Newtown, CT/Newtown) turned aside a Figueiredo shot to keep the game scoreless. With just under 15 minutes to go, a Polar Bear cross ricocheted off a Wheaton defender and out to an open Wakefield, who rifled a shot into the upper left netting. Figueiredo's goal came via a header on a cross from Regis.

Pachniuk was credited with four stops in the loss, while Lovitz registered five saves for Bowdoin. The Polar Bears outshot the Lyons, 11-9 and held a 2-1 edge in corner kicks.

Wheaton concludes its regular season with a pair of New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) games, as the Lyons look to defend their regular season title beginning on Saturday afternoon at Babson College. Game time in Babson Park is set for 1:00 p.m.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Bowdoin (9-2) 0 2 2
Wheaton (9-4-3) 0 0 0

2nd Half: BC- Tom Wakefield (unassisted) 74:46, Nick Figueiredo (Anthony Regis) 80:53

Goalie Saves: WC- Matt Pachniuk 4; BC- Nathan Lovitz 5

Shots: WC- 9; BC- 11

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