Wheaton's bid to reach Pilgrim League championship game falls short at regionally-ranked Springfield, 14-7

May 3, 2006

SPRINGFIELD, MA- The number-three seed Wheaton College men's lacrosse team had its five-game winning streak come to an end Wednesday afternoon in the Pilgrim League Tournament at second-seeded Springfield College, where the Lyons' bid to reach the championship game fell short following their 14-7 setback to the Pride at Benedum Field.

Wheaton, which was making its first tourney appearance since the 1998 season, falls to 8-6-1 with the loss and will await Monday's announcement as to whether the Lyons will be selected to their third Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament in the last five seasons. Springfield, ranked sixth by the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA), advances to Saturday's title game at Western New England College, which defeated number four Babson College, 18-8 earlier today.

Winners of seven consecutive games and 10 of its last 11, the Pride improved to 12-4 on the season. Using five different two-goal scorers to upend the Lyons, Springfield led throughout the game's entirety. The Pride jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 11:07 left in the first, as junior Paul Voegeli (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire), sophomore Steve Krasco (Medford, MA/Governor Dummer Academy) and freshman Jake Beebe (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) each netted goals. Wheaton senior Ellis Reavey (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) responded with two scores, but the Pride tallied three of the next four to take a 6-3 lead into the second period.

The offenses slowed in the second quarter, as each team notched a goal during the 15-minute frame, including the first coming from Springfield freshman Jake Jones (Amherst, MA/Amherst Regional) with 14:33 left. The Lyons got that goal back just before the halftime horn sounded, with senior Adam Cohen (Montpelier, VT/Montpelier) taking the honors. With just the two scores in the second, the Pride entered the intermission with a 7-4 advantage.

Wheaton scored two of the first three goals to open the third quarter in cutting its deficit to 8-6 with 10:56 remaining thanks to another Reavey goal, but the Lyons would get no closer, as the Pride rattled off four unanswered tallies over a 2:46 span to put the game out of reach. Senior John Sharry (Westwood, MA/Westwood) gave the visitors a goal to close the third period, but the Springfield defense shut out Wheaton for the final 15:36 of the game.

Reavey paced the Lyons with a hat trick and Sharry finished with two goals. Sophomore Richie Rasamny (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow) assisted two of Wheaton's tallies, while sophomore goalie Jeremy Beech (West Newbury, MA/Governor Dummer Academy) was credited with a career-best 21 saves.

Beebe, Jones, Voegeli, senior Taylor Brown (Portsmouth, RI/Governor Dummer Academy) and first-year Pat Cavanaugh (Wayland, MA/Wayland) scored twice apiece in the win. Junior Tom Santagato (Queens, NY/Saint Francis Prep) handed out two assists, while classmate Kyle Cloutier (South Hadley, MA/South Hadley) stopped 21 Wheaton shots.

SCORING: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Wheaton (8-6-1) 3 1 3 0 7
Springfield (12-4) 6 1 5 2 14

Cumulative Scoring:
Goals: WC- Ellis Reavey 3, John Sharry 2, Adam Cohen, Taylor Jackson; SC- Jake Beebe 2, Taylor Brown 2, Pat Cavanaugh 2, Jake Jones 2, Paul Voegeli 2, Brandon Asplundh, Chris Jez, Steve Krasco, Adam Toutain

Assists: WC- Richie Rasamny 2, Cohen; SC- Brown 2, Tom Santagato 2, Cavanaugh, Toutain

Goalkeeper Saves: WC- Jeremy Beech 21; SC- Kyle Cloutier 21

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