Lyons hang tough with nationally-ranked Western New England before coming up short

March 25, 2006

NORTON, MA- Behind four goals from senior Taylor Jackson (Middlesex, VT/Union 32), the Wheaton College men's lacrosse team stood tied at five with nationally-ranked Western New England College late in the third quarter on Saturday before allowing the game's final five goals in a 10-5 loss at Mirrione Stadium during each team's Pilgrim League opener. The Lyons fell to 1-4-1 while WNEC, which is tied for 17th in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) poll, is 5-1.

Jackson scored Wheaton's first four goals on the afternoon, giving the Lyons their last lead with 10:44 remaining in the opening half after intercepting a pass on the defensive end, running the length of the field and burying his second goal for a 2-1 Wheaton advantage. However, the Golden Bears tallied at 6:21 and 2:34 to take a 3-2 lead into intermission.

WNEC took a two-goal lead just 21 seconds into the third quarter when freshman defender Stephen Toomey (Northborough, MA/Algonquin Regional) scored after streaking in from the midfield. However, Jackson scored twice in a 1:13 span to knot the game at four with 6:35 to go. After the visitors retook the lead nine seconds later, Wheaton senior Ellis Reavey (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) tallied with 4:07 left, but WNEC senior Joe Cassani (Barre, VT/Spaulding) netted the eventual game-winner at 2:43. The Golden Bears put the game away with four fourth-quarter goals.

Wheaton sophomore Jeremy Beech (West Newbury, MA/Governor Dummer Academy) finished with 14 saves, as WNEC held a 50-20 advantage in shots, recording at least a dozen in each period. Cassani and juniors Adam Cherry (Westfield, MA/Westfield) and Zack Sondrini (Pittsfield, MA/Pittsfield) each finished with two goals for the Golden Bears, while sophomore Bryan Cofrin (Londonderry, NH/Pinkerton Academy) finished the afternoon with four assists. Sophomore Chris Body (Newtown, CT/Newtown) stopped six shots.

Wheaton continues a three-game homestand against non-conference foe Plymouth State University on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.

SCORING: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
WNEC (5-1) 1 2 3 4 10
Wheaton (1-4-1) 1 1 3 0 5

Cumulative Scoring:
Goals: WC- Taylor Jackson 4, Ellis Reavey; WNEC- Joe Cassani 2, Adam Cherry 2, Zack Sondrini 2, Kevin Batson, Mike Kelly, Brody Savoie, Stephen Toomey

Assists: WC- Larry Nussbaum; WNEC- Bryan Cofrin 4, Kelly 2, Travis Brown

Goalkeeper Saves: WC- Jeremy Beech 14; WNEC- Chris Body 6

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