WORCESTER --- Wheaton received goals from four different student-athletes and scored three times after intermission to defeat WPI, 4-0, in NEWMAC men's soccer action Wednesday evening at H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium.
The setback moves the Engineers to 2-6-5 overall and 2-1-2 in conference play, while the Lyons improve to 8-2-4 on the season and 3-1-1 in the NEWMAC.
Wheaton opened the scoring at 18:04 when Jacques Violette (Madison, CT) finished a throw-in from Austin Hoadley (South Kent, CT) for his first goal of the season. WPI held a 6-5 advantage in first-half shots but entered the break trailing 1-0.
Nathan Araujo (Holliston, MA) tested Wheaton goalkeeper Nick Phinney (Gorham, ME) in the ninth minute, while Alan Barretto (Exeter, NH) forced another stop in the 37th minute. At the other end, Savio Ketnouvong (Worcester, MA) registered three first-half saves to keep the Engineers within striking distance.
The Lyons doubled their advantage at 62:48 as Vinny McGann (Chelmsford, MA) converted a feed from Declan Rhatigan (Holderness, NH) for his third tally of the season.
WPI generated a trio of chances to cut into the deficit, but Phinney denied Nikolas Previte (Andover, MA) at 72:33, Anir AitDowd (Harvard, MA) at 73:30 and Araujo at 79:26.
Wheaton added insurance at 80:22 when Paco Polo (Madrid, Spain) headed home a service from Mason Fasoli (Weymouth, MA) for his fifth goal of the campaign. Fasoli collected his second assist of the evening at 86:54, setting up Harry Converse (Cape Elizabeth, ME) for his first collegiate tally.
Ketnouvong finished with six saves over the full 90 minutes for WPI, while Phinney turned aside five shots to earn the shutout. The Lyons held a 13-10 advantage in shots, including a 10-5 margin in shots on goal, and a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Araujo and Previte paced the Engineers with two shots apiece, with both of Araujo's attempts on target.
The Crimson and Gray remains home Saturday, October 24, hosting Babson at 3pm at H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium. Wheaton welcomes Coast Guard to Keefe Field the same afternoon at 2pm for its Senior Day contest.
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