Men's soccer to honor Wheaton's first male team to reach NCAA Tournament

October 17, 2007

NORTON, MA- This Saturday the Wheaton College men's soccer program will honor the 10-year anniversary of the school's first male team to reach an NCAA Tournament. The ceremony commemorating one of the program's most successful teams will take place on Keefe Field at halftime of Wheaton's 1:00 p.m. game against New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Babson College.

Helping facilitate the presentation will be Dean of Students Sue Alexander, Associate Dean of Students Jack Kuszaj, Executive Director of Athletics Chad Yowell and Assistant Director of Athletics John Sutyak '00. The 1997 squad advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament that fall. The college became coeducational in 1987.

Saturday's festivities are also set to have audio and video coverage, as the game is one of a number of scheduled broadcasts covered by Norton Community Television and on-campus radio station WCCS-FM 96.5. The broadcast will be on a tape-delay basis and made available free of charge on Wheaton's athletics Web site at www.wheatoncollege.edu/athletics and on the Norton TV Web site at www.nortontv.org/wheaton.html.

The expected players in attendance will receive Wheaton men's soccer T-shirts during the ceremony. After the game, invited guests will take part in a reception in the Haas Athletic Center. The Lyons Athletic Club (LAC), which is a booster club that was formed in the fall of 2006 in order to enhance the relationship between the college's athletic programs and its alumnae/i, parents and friends, will sponsor a Homecoming tent from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Wheaton's 1997 team was the first of seven of the school's men's soccer squads to have qualified for an NCAA Tournament, as the Lyons posted a 14-4-1 record in the final season before the NEWMAC was established. Wheaton knocked off Keene State College in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Norton before tying Plymouth State University in Brunswick, Maine, during the second round, as the Lyons eventually fell in a penalty-kick shootout.

Under the direction of current head coach Matt Cushing, who was in his fourth season in 1997, alongside assistants Greg Bowman '94, Louis Joseph and Sven Lehner '98, the 1997 team still ranks among the best in the program's annals. Its consecutive shutout streak of five stands first all time, its winning percentage of .763 is seventh, and its victory total and consecutive win stretch of seven are tied for eighth.

Senior captains of the squad were Jon Girolamo, who is expected back this weekend, and Anson Smith. Girolamo is one of the top goalies to have come through the program, as he is first in all-time saves and second in career wins, shutouts, goals against average, save percentage and minutes played.

Saturday is also significant for the 2007 Lyons, who with a victory will clinch the regular season conference championship, which would give them at least a share of their fourth straight and seventh in the league's 10-year history. That afternoon is also Senior Day, as Wheaton will honor its seven outgoing players and their parents.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 10/17/07.
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