Lyons lose to Clark for first time in 14 meetings, set to host next weekend's NEWMAC Tournament

October 27, 2007

WORCESTER, MA- The Wheaton College men's soccer team's bid for a fourth unbeaten New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season was thwarted by host Clark University Saturday afternoon, as the regionally-ranked Lyons dropped a 1-0 decision to the Cougars at Granger Field. Falling to Clark for the first time in 14 meetings, Wheaton retained the regular season crown due to last Saturday's Homecoming victory over Babson College.

Ranked sixth in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the Lyons fall to 10-6-3 overall and 4-1-1 in the NEWMAC and will await the winner of Wednesday's first-round game between number four Clark and fifth-seeded Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Wheaton hosts Saturday's semifinal round action and Sunday's championship game. Clark improved to 6-4-6 and 3-2-1 with today's victory.

The Cougars nearly made it a 1-0 game when a header ricocheted off the left post in the fourth minute but instead settled for the game-winner just a few minutes later off a free kick. Clark scored the lone goal in the seventh minute of action, as sophomore Preben Gietz (Waterloo, Belgium/Saint John's International) tallied his first marker of the season off an assist from senior David Blum (Irvington, NY/Irvington) at 6:28.

Wheaton goalkeeper Cole Davidson (Needham, MA/Salisbury School) kept the game at a one-goal margin as the freshman netminder stopped a pair of Cougar chances with a diving save and punch over the crossbar in a first half that had Clark with a 5-3 shot advantage. The hosts also had three of the four first-half corner kicks.

The Lyons came out of the halftime intermission on the offensive, as Wheaton had consecutive chances from freshman Jake Wagner (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) and senior Reed Hollett (Bedford, Nova Scotia/Halifax Grammar School) during a one-minute span. However, Wagner's shot rolled to the left of the target and Hollett's header landed right of the frame, as the Lyons were unable to find the equalizer.

Davidson came up with a big save in the 61st minute to preserve the one-goal deficit, while Clark junior goalkeeper Peter Wise (Providence, RI/Classical) helped his own cause with a pair of diving stops off freshman Josh Solomon's (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxboro Regional) attempt in the 71st minute and senior Trevor Cote's (Portsmouth, RI/Providence Country Day School) bid with less than four minutes on the clock.

Davidson suffered the loss with a season-high-tying six saves, while Wise turned aside three shots. The Lyons outshot the Cougars, 9-8, while Clark finished with a 5-2 edge in corners.

SCORING: 1st 2nd Final
Wheaton (10-6-3, 4-1-1) 0 0 0
Clark (6-4-6, 3-2-1) 1 0 1

1st Half: CU- Preben Gietz (David Blum) 6:28

Goalie Saves: WC- Cole Davidson 6; CU- Peter Wise 3

Shots: WC- 9; CU- 8

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