Wheaton wins seventh NEWMAC regular season crown, beats Babson, 2-1

October 20, 2007

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's soccer team captured its seventh New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season title in the league's 10-year history Saturday afternoon thanks to a 2-1 victory over visiting Babson College during Homecoming weekend and Senior Day on Keefe Field.

Wheaton, which has had at least a share of the regular season title in each of the last four seasons, defeated Babson by a lone tally for the fifth straight time. Ranked tied for eighth in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the Lyons reached double-figure wins for the 16th straight year in improving to 10-5-3 overall and 4-0-1 in league play. The fourth-ranked Beavers fall to 10-4-1 and 3-2.

Senior Jim Ferriero (Medway, MA/Medway) shined on Senior Day, delivering free-kick assists on each goal in the eighth and 15th minutes. The game's first goal began from midfield, as Ferriero's restart was directed to the right side of the net. After senior goalie Chris Necklas (Guilford, CT/Guilford) was unable to corral the ball, senior co-captain Trevor Cote (Portsmouth, RI/Providence Country Day School) was in position to easily send his shot into the lower left corner of the net at 7:41.

In the 15th minute, Ferriero's free kick found senior Reed Hollett (Bedford, Nova Scotia/Halifax Grammar School) on the right side of the box. Hollett headed the kick over to freshman David Ferriero (Medway, MA/Medway), who finished his brother's restart with a header of his own and the eventual game-winner. Babson was stymied early on, as the Beavers didn't get their first shot off until 14 minutes remained in the first half.

On the visitors' second and last shot of the half with 6:30 to play, freshman Dan Hixon (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) was denied by Wheaton freshman goalie Cole Davidson (Needham, MA/Salisbury School), who got his fingertips on the shot and forced the ball to glance off the crossbar and out of harm's way. The Lyons held a decided 10-2 shot advantage through 45 minutes, while corner kicks were even at two each.

Wheaton had a pair of great chances to extend its lead in the second stanza, but freshman Kyle Sye (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxboro Regional) hit the top right corner of the frame in the 52nd minute and classmate Josh Solomon's (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxboro Regional) shot landed on the top netting. With 23:30 to go, the Beavers had a golden opportunity, but Davidson came up huge by saving a penalty kick off the foot of junior Timothy Winn (Sutton, MA/Sutton) to keep Babson off the board.

Freshman David Winrow (South Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) nearly gave the hosts a 3-0 edge, but Necklas made a big leaping save and punched the ball over the crossbar. Both teams came away empty for most of the stanza until Babson made it a one-goal contest on an unassisted tally from senior Justin Unger (Cape Elizabeth, ME/Cape Elizabeth). The Lyons were unable to clear deep in the box as the Beavers scored at 81:54.

Davidson and Necklas finished with four saves apiece, as Wheaton held a 21-15 shot advantage. Each team finished with five corners.

Wheaton closes out its 2007 regular season with a league match at Clark University Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Babson (10-4-1, 3-2) 0 1 1
Wheaton (10-5-3, 4-0-1) 2 0 2

1st Half: WC- Trevor Cote (Jim Ferriero) 7:41, David Ferriero (Reed Hollett, Jim Ferriero) 14:12

2nd Half: BC- Justin Unger (unassisted) 81:54

Goalie Saves: WC- Cole Davidson 4; BC- Chris Necklas 4

Shots: WC- 21; BC- 15

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