Wheaton men's soccer advances to seventh NCAA Tournament, Lyons set to face Western New England College on Saturday

November 6, 2006

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's soccer team will make a return to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the fourth straight season, sixth time in the last seven years and seventh occasion overall. By earning an automatic berth into the tournament, the Lyons will face Western New England College in Saturday's opening round at Amherst College at 1:30 p.m. The Golden Bears also drew an automatic bid after winning the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament.

Wheaton, which captured its sixth New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament title and sixth regular season conference crown, enters the championship with a 12-4-4 overall record. Host Amherst will play Westfield State College in Saturday's other opening-round game at 11:00 a.m., with the winners squaring off on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. for the chance to advance to the following weekend's sectional round.

Entering the tournament, the Blue and White has gone 8-1-4 in its last 13 games since September 20. With the fifth ranking in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) New England poll, the Lyons have clinched their 13th winning season in as many years under head coach Matt Cushing, who recorded his 200th career victory on Sunday. Cushing has a 200-51-22 (.773) career mark and entered the season with the 17th-best winning percentage in NCAA men's soccer history, including sixth among Division III coaches. Wheaton is 7-4-3 in NCAA Tournament play since its initial appearance in 1997. Since then, the Lyons advanced to the 2001 Elite Eight and 2003 Final Four.

The Lyons went 5-1 during NEWMAC play, clinching their sixth regular season title with a 1-0 victory over Clark during their conference finale on October 29. As the top seed in the league tournament, Wheaton hosted the NEWMAC Tournament's semifinals and championship game. Against United States Coast Guard Academy on Saturday, the teams battled to a scoreless draw through two overtimes before the Lyons advanced behind a 5-4 shootout victory. Wheaton downed Babson College, 1-0 in Sunday's title tilt.

The Blue and White met the Golden Bears at Keefe Field on September 12, when Western New England scored the only goal of the game with 62 seconds remaining in the second overtime. Wheaton leads the all-time series, 4-1. The Golden Bears are 6-0-1 in their last seven games and are 9-1-1 since late September.

Wheaton's defense has been its strength, as the Lyons have posted eight shutouts while yielding one goal or less 14 times. Senior Ariel Tatum (Cayman Islands, BWI/Holderness School), a converted midfielder, joins classmate Andrew Smith (West Hartford, CT/Hall), junior Jim Ferriero (Medway, MA/Medway) and sophomore Ben Resnicow (Newton, MA/Newton North) to anchor the defensive corps. Senior keeper Matt Pachniuk (Newtown, CT/Newtown), the program's all-time leader in career wins (54) and shutouts (29), has recorded a 1.01 goals against average, .820 save percentage and six shutouts this season.

For the second straight year, sophomore Dan Lane (Dedham, MA/Worcester Academy) has been the Lyons' most dangerous offensive weapon. The 2005 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year is second in the conference in each goals (10) and points (23), having netted four game-winning goals. Senior forward Dennis Durao (West Hartford, CT/Northwest Catholic), who began the season as a starter in the backfield, has contributed 12 points and a team-best six assists, while Tatum and senior midfielder Cameron Habib (Norfolk, MA/Bridgton Academy) each have 10 points. Sophomore forward Justin Hart (Ashland, MA/Ashland) is second with four goals.

2006 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament Bracket

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 1/31/07.
Questions about this page? Use our query form.

News Headlines

Cote and Ferriero two of six NEWMAC players selected to compete in NEISL Senior All-Star game (more)

Senior captains draw All-New England laurels for first time (more)

Wheaton men's soccer's final record receives adjustment (more)