MSOCaction nichols 15 09
DSPics.com

Men's Soccer Written by Henry Loughlin, Athletic Communications Assistant

Wheaton holds off Men's Soccer

Box Score

BRISTOL, R.I. - A goal in the 82nd minute consigned the Roger Williams University Men's Soccer Team to a 3-2 defeat against Wheaton College on Sunday afternoon.

David Turina (North Yarmouth, Maine) scored with 8:18 remaining to thwart the Hawks' hopes of getting anything from a game in which they had twice come from behind. The loss drops Roger Williams to 1-4.

Though first-half goalmouth action was at a premium, Roger Williams withstood some early Lyons pressure, as freshman goalkeeper Jon Pelloso (Wilbraham, Mass.), making his first career start, produced a flying save in the 23rd minute to keep out a bid from Wheaton's Cecil Jeffrey (Framingham, Mass.). In the 31st minute, the Lyons' Howard Manly (Ayer, Mass.) appeared primed to break the deadlock, but his chip shot was cleared off the goal line by sophomore Kamali Webson (Bellingham, Mass.).

However, from the resulting corner, Wheaton gained the upper hand. Turina whipped in a curler into the box that Yuri Moreira (Marlboro, Mass.) headed into the net for a 1-0 advantage. There were no significant scoring chances in the rest of the first half, and the Lyons went into the break up by one.

The Hawks pressure paid off, and they got on the board in the 64th minute. After Wheaton was called for a foul just inside their own half, Jeff MacDonald (Shrewsbury, Mass.) sent a long ball into the penalty box, where the ball deflected into the net off a Wheaton defender past Lyon goalkeeper Stefan Virgah (Columbus, Ohio) to level the score at one apiece.

Wheaton retook the advantage with 18:54 left to play. A long throw-in from Jake Wagner (Sudbury, Mass.) found the head of Max Swanson (Lexington, Mass.) to put the Lyons ahead 2-1, and seemingly in control.

Just 4:59 later, however, RWU equalized for the second time in the half. After Wheaton failed to clear a long ball played into the box by Billy Kissane (Glastonbury, Conn.), Dan Caruso (Tewksbury, Mass.) pounced on the loose ball and slotted home past Virgah to tie the game at 2-2 with 13:55 remaining in regulation.

Though the Hawks had tied the game twice, Wheaton ultimately grabbed the winner in the 82nd minute. After a foul was called on RWU 25 yards out in a central position, Turina sent a bullet of a free-kick into the top left corner, with the diving Pelloso given no chance. Roger Williams threatened late on, pinning Wheaton back with two free-kicks in the last two minutes, but the Lyons were able to hold on for the 3-2 win.

Virgah escaped with the win, making one save in the game, while his Hawk counterpart Pelloso suffered the setback, though stopping nine shots in the game.

Roger Williams (1-4-0) is in action again at Framingham State College on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., while Wheaton (4-0-1) plays next at Eastern Connecticut State University on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Print Friendly Version