Wheaton Edges Men's Soccer, 2-1, In NEWMAC Tournament Quarterfinals
Box ScoreNorton, Mass. - November 4, 2009 - The Springfield College men's soccer team's season came to a close on Wednesday afternoon as it lost a 2-1 decision at Wheaton College in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament Quarterfinals.
With the loss, the 7th-seeded Pride finishes the season with a 5-13-1 overall record. Wheaton, the #2 seed and ranked tied for 18th nationally, ups its record to 17-3-1, and advances to its 10th straight semifinal round.
Wheaton freshman Cecil Jeffrey (Framingham, MA/Rivers School) turned in his first career game-winner, coming in the 75th minute, while junior Yuri Moreira (Marlboro, MA/Northfield Mount Hermon School) posted his conference-best 16th goal in the opening half on a long assist from junior keeper Cole Davidson (Needham, MA/Salisbury School), who also finished with two stops. Wheaton held edges of 11-7 in shots and 7-5 in corner kicks.
Springfield freshman Alex Reilly (Ledyard, CT/Ledyard) provided the tying marker in the 58th minute, while classmate Chris Walton (Cromwell, CT/Cromwell) had three saves.
Davidson earned the assist after booting the ball three quarters of the field to a streaking Moreira, who carried the ball down the right side before blasting his shot from inside the box into the upper left netting at 17:27. The Lyons took six of the first-half's seven shots, with the Pride's lone attempt coming off a free kick.
After an apparent Wheaton goal was negated due to an offsides call early in the second frame, Springfield knotted the contest shortly thereafter. Reilly collected a loose ball in the middle of the field and outside the box before drilling his shot to the right side of the target and beyond the reach of a diving Davidson at 57:39.
With each team playing a man short for the final 31:39 of the second half, the hosts took the lead for good with 15:16 to go. From the right end line, freshman Max Swanson (Lexington, MA/Lexington) broke down a couple of Springfield defenders before freeing himself for a quick cross to an oncoming Jeffrey, who tucked away his shot into the lower right corner of the net at 74:44.
Team Links
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Head Coach Peter Haley
Only the seventh coach in a rich soccer tradition dating back to 1906, Peter Haley '77 G '78 will be entering his 25th season of coaching at his alma mater in the fall of 2009. A veteran of 28 years on the college soccer circuit, Haley has amassed over 200 wins during his impressive tenure. Read more.