CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Nine seemed like it would be the defining number for the Lesley Men's Soccer Team's first year of existence.

But not as a positive symbol. Not until Tuesday, October 24, 2006.

Lesley entered its final weekend road trip of the regular season on October 21 and 22 having lost nine of its last 10 games. A season seemed so prime with promise had just one breath of desperation left.

If the Lynx were to return to the form that opened their inaugural campaign an eye-opening 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the North Atlantic Conference, then their chance for an invitation to the NAC post-season tournament could still be alive.

But that meant they would not only need help from conference foes Becker and Castleton State, they would also have to take care of two other NAC teams on their own - Husson and Maine Maritime.

It took less than 20 seconds into their first-ever Saturday afternoon match in the state of Maine before Lesley knew ‘Lady Luck' had officially lost interest in the Lynx.

Freshman defender James Boursiquot (Bridgeport, Conn.) went down like Joe Frazier when he collided heads with a Husson player as they jumped for the ball - leaving him immediately looking like a prizefighter with a swollen left eye.

Ironically, he was replaced by sophomore Zach Rocha (New Bedford, Mass.), who earlier in the season required 19 stitches in his forehead from a similar collision. But Rocha couldn't spark a Lesley team that failed to overcome a swirling wind, puddle-filled pitch and a staggering home-field advantage as the Lynx went into the half down 5-0.

By the end of the match, the scoreboard read 8-0 in favor of Husson, and the next day didn't produce any better a result as Lesley fell 1-0 to Maine Maritime. It didn't matter that Becker had defeated Castleton State, 1-0, on Saturday, to clinch the final spot in the NAC tournament as the Lynx failed to take care of their own business.

Nine goals allowed in two days. It seemed like it would be the final, sad line in the 2006 Lesley Men's Soccer Team's story.

But the Lynx had one more game to play. A friendly match with Massachusetts Maritime at Lesley's home field at BB&N. The last opportunity to at least end the 34-day long stretch of losing.

But that pesky number stood in the way again. Nine players from Lesley's roster were unable to suit up for the final match due to injuries and suspensions, literally cutting the team in half.

For 90 minutes, nine players were asked to compete against 11.

And for 35 minutes, those nine players kept those 11 from reaching their net.

Players like 17-year-old freshman Tyler Rutherford  (Medford, Conn.) - who had never amassed 90 total minutes of competitive, organized soccer in his life - never stopped running.

Players like 26-year-old junior defender and captain Mark Montgomery (Leeds, ENGLAND) strapped on some gloves so that usual goalie Imad Elkatrib (North Quincy, Mass.) could have an opportunity to play striker.

Players like 25-year-old junior Jherry Etienne (Roslindale, Mass.), who hadn't been able to make the road trip to Maine while he awaited the birth of his son and hadn't got much sleep in the last week as he still awaited the delivery, gave every ounce of energy he had left.

These men and six others made a 5-2 defeat seem like a victory. They took away some of the sting from a season-ending 13-game winless streak.

When freshman defender Scott Wheeler (East Hampden, Conn.) screamed a left-footed blast from 25 yards out into the top corner to make it a 4-2 deficit with 10 minutes to go, you would've thought Lesley had taken the lead.

But the only lead that statistically had been taken was for individual scoring, as Wheeler had netted his team-best sixth goal of the season. Wouldn't you know his jersey number? Nine.

More than anyone else, though, Wheeler displayed how little the numbers sometimes mean. All he wanted to do after the goal was smile and hug his teammates.

After the match, that's the only thing everyone in green and white cared about doing.

There may not have been much joy in Mudville, but there was a lot of pride in Cambridge.

To learn more about the Lesley University men's soccer team, please visit their website.