SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - September 29, 2007 – The Springfield College men's soccer team tallied two goals in the first 15 minutes of the match but it was not enough as Wheaton rallied to top the Pride, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at Brock-Affleck Field at the Irv Schmid Sports Complex in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference action.

The win moves the Lyons to 8-2-2, 3-0 in NEWMAC play, while Springfield falls to 4-6, 1-2.

The Pride got off to a quick start when sophomore Adrian Schippers (Ashby, Mass.) scored in the fifth minute of the game after a terrific individual effort to give SC a 1-0 lead. Schippers juked a pair of Wheaton defenders and ripped a shot off the right post to give the home team a 1-0 advantage.

Soon after in the fifteenth minute of play, senior forward Tony Distasio (Burlington, Conn.) headed the ball into the back of the net from a direct kick taken by Jeremy Scheer (Enfield, Conn.) to take a 2-0 lead.

Wheaton got a goal from Yuri Mareira in the 30th minute of play on an assist from Josh Solomon to cut the deficit in half. The equalizer came off the foot of Tyler Ostholthoff in the 38th minute when he scored an unassisted goal after a long run down the right sideline.

The second half was filled with plenty of physical play as a combined 22 fouls were committed. Wheaton would break the tie in the 80th minute of play when Trevor Cote scored the game-winning goal.

Springfield opens up a four-game road swing which begins on Wednesday when the Pride faces Bridgewater State. Kick-off is slated for 3:30 p.m.

published: 09/29/2007