Wheaton Shuts Down Men's Soccer, 2-0
Norton, MA --- The regionally-ranked Wheaton College men's soccer team recorded its third straight shutout and ninth of the season during Wednesday afternoon's 2-0 victory over visiting Worcester State College in non-conference action at Keefe Field. Junior Fred Groos picked up eight saves in the setback for WSC.
Wheaton 2, Worcester State 0
Norton, MA --- The regionally-ranked Wheaton College men's
soccer team recorded its third straight shutout and ninth of the
season during Wednesday afternoon's 2-0 victory over visiting
Worcester State College in non-conference action at Keefe
Field.
Receiving national votes and ranked fourth in the region according
to this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America
(NSCAA) polls, the Lyons ran their series record against the
Lancers to 6-2 while raising their overall record to 14-3-1.
Worcester State dropped its second straight game to fall to
2-12-2.
Junior Josh Solomon (Acton, MA) was credited with the winner, as
Wheaton held advantages of 18-4 in shots and 9-2 in corner kicks,
while freshman Cecil Jeffrey (Framingham, MA) picked up his first
collegiate goal.
Junior Cole Davidson (Needham, MA) turned aside a pair of
first-half shots in earning his seventh shutout of the season,
while junior Fred Groos (Floral Park, NY) had
seven of Worcester State's eight stops, as the Lancers were
credited with a team save in the second half.
After an uneventful first half that saw Wheaton double up the
visitors in shots, 6-3, the Lyons broke through in the 56th minute,
taking advantage of a Worcester State hand ball in the box. On the
ensuing kick, Solomon drove his second game-winner opposite Groos
and into the lower corner of the net.
From that point on, Wheaton upped its offensive pressure, with
freshman Max Swanson (Lexington, MA) nearly making it a 2-0 game
with just over 30 minutes to go, but a diving fingertip save from
Groos pushed the shot just left of the target. Not even two minutes
later, Jeffrey took a cross from junior David Ferriero (Medway, MA)
in the middle of the box and blasted a shot off a defender and into
the back of the net at 60:18.
Just over two minutes after the Jeffrey strike, Solomon rifled a
shot from just inside the box that smacked the crossbar and bounced
out of harm's way. The Lyons controlled play in the second half,
taking 12 of the stanza's 13 shots and six of the eight corners.
Release Courtesy of Wheaton Sports Information