Lyons see four-game winning streak snapped with 1-0 loss to Wesleyan

October 2, 2007

NORTON, MA- Junior Alan Ashenfelter's (Millis, MA/Rivers School) 77th-minute tally off a give-and-go with classmate Matt Nevin (Denville, NJ/Montclair) stood up as the game's lone goal, and the Wesleyan University men's soccer team snapped Wheaton College's four-game winning streak with a 1-0 victory on Tuesday at Keefe Field.

The Lyons, who are tied for 25th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national poll and stand third in the region, fell to 8-3-2. Wheaton had won its last nine regular season contests decided by a lone tally. The Cardinals, who have now played seven one-goal games, won their fourth straight to improve to 4-4.

Neither team generated many first-half opportunities, as they combined for seven shots, and just one on net. The closest try came off the foot of Wesleyan freshman Geoff Zartarian (Falmouth, MA/Falmouth), who was turned aside when first-year keeper Cole Davidson (Needham, MA/Salisbury School) dropped to his left and made a save with less than 30 seconds remaining in the stanza.

Wheaton nearly broke on top in the 55th minute, as freshman Josh Solomon (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxboro Regional) pushed a right-footed shot toward the net, but senior keeper Matt Gnall (Morristown, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) reached to smother the ball with his left arm. In the 76th minute, Cardinal senior Justin Mello (Rehoboth, MA/La Salle Academy) drove a left-footed shot from 15 yards out to Davidson's chest.

Nearly one minute later, the visitors broke the stalemate. Ashenfelter rushed into the left side of the box before sending a cross toward Nevin, who had a good angle to shoot on the right side but passed back to Ashenfelter, who buried the game-winner into the lower left corner. Davidson kept the Cardinals from making it 2-0 in the 82nd minute, diving to block a shot off the foot of junior Ozzie Parente (Orange, CT/Hopkins School) that came with the net momentarily vacated.

The Cardinals' tally stood up thanks to edges of 10-9 in shots and 4-2 in corner kicks. Davidson stopped five shots, while Gnall made three saves.

Wheaton returns to action on Saturday at New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe United States Coast Guard Academy. Game time is 11:30 a.m.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Wesleyan (4-4) 0 1 1
Wheaton (8-3-2) 0 0 0

2nd Half: WU- Alan Ashenfelter (Matt Nevin) 76:47

Goalie Saves: WC- Cole Davidson 5; WU- Matt Gnall 3

Shots: WC- 9; WU- 10

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