Wheaton and Keene State Play to 1-1 Stalemate in Non-Conference Action

NORTON, MA- Keene State College sophomore Mike Cooley (Northboro, MA/Algonquin Regional) tallied with 1:42 remaining in regulation, and the Owls and the regionally-ranked Wheaton College men's soccer team played to a 1-1 double-overtime tie on Saturday at Keefe Field.

Following a dead ball foul on Wheaton, Cooley bent a shot around the Lyons' wall from 20-yards out into the top corner of the net. 

KSC Coach Ron Butcher said the game was a war between two of the top teams in the region.  "I think this was a coming out game for us," he said.  "If we play like this the rest of the season, we should be in good shape."

The Lyons, who are ranked seventh in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), moved to 2-1-1, while the visitors are now 1-2-1. The teams played in their second double-overtime outing in as many years, and the 11-game all-time series remains tied at 5-5-1.

Each team had seven shots in the opening half, with Keene State turning in a pair of legitimate threats by Alex Horne (Harvard, Mass.) that were both snuffed out by Wheaton freshman keeper Chris Smart (Brookfield, CT/Brookfield) in the 10th and 21st minutes, respectively. Classmate Yuri Moreira (Marlboro, MA/Northfield Mount Hermon School) nearly gave the Lyons the lead in the 23rd minute, as he ran up the right side but pushed a shot just past the left post.

Wheaton netted the first goal of the game with less than 20 minutes remaining in regulation. Freshman Eric Driscoll (Lexington, MA/Lexington) drove a free kick from the top of the box that classmate David Ferriero (Medway, MA/Medway) flicked off his head and in for his first collegiate goal with 19:05 left. Driscoll notched his team-leading fifth assist.

Moreira nearly doubled the hosts' lead with 4:30 to go, but senior backstop Cal Mintz (Westport, CT/Staples) came out to contest a shot and make the save. After a Wheaton foul with less than two minutes to play, Cooley took Keene State's ensuing free kick and arched a left-footed shot into the upper left corner of the net.

Neither team had sustained scoring opportunities in overtime, as six shots and three corner kicks were taken between the two squads. Smart made eight saves, while Mintz had five stops. Keene State held edges of 16-13 in shots and 8-6 in corner kicks.

Keene State hosts Worcester State on Tuesday (6:30 p.m.)The Lyons turn right around and host Salve Regina University tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.

(Courtesy Wheaton Sports Information)