CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University sophomore Erik Johansen (West Harrison, N.Y.) scored the only goal of the game in the 62nd minute to give the Lynx a 1-0 victory over Regis College this afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action at Edward Field. The win moves Lesley to 3-4-3 and nets their first win in NECC play as they improve to 1-0-1. With the setback, the Pride fall to 3-8-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the conference.
Sophomore Harrison Sidell (Newhall, Calif.) set up the goal as he leaped on got his head on a ball crossed into the box. As the ball was trickling along the goal line, Johansen sprinted through and headed it to the back of the net for his third tally of the season. The assist was Sidell's second of the season.
The Lynx nearly added an insurance goal as freshman Anthony Vitta (Oceanside, N.Y.) got behind the Pride backline and settled a pass from midfield from sophomore Skylar Ripley (Yuba City, Calif.). With a defender on his hip, Vitta unleashed a right-footed blast, but his attempt went just right of the nearside post to leave the match at 1-0.
With just three minutes to go, Regis had their best scoring opportunity of the day when junior Renato Rosas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) sent a free kick from 40 yards out to the far post inside the Lesley penalty area. Freshman Collin Thurston (Temecula, Calif.) came streaking into the box and one-timed the ball out of midair, but could not make solid contact as the ball went out for a goal kick.
Lesley outshot the visitors by a 10-6 margin while each side had two opportunities from the corner. The physical match ended with a combined 30 fouls being called while five yellow cards were issued.
Vitta almost broke open the scoring in the first half as he settled a ball and ripped a shot that was blocked by Pride keeper Manny Calderon (Bristol, Conn.) while the rebound was cleared by the Regis backline to nullify the threat.
The Pride coupled a pair of chances late in the half. Freshman Amandio Ferreira (Dorchester, Mass.) saw his free kick from 40 yards out skip through the Lynx penalty area before Chase Donley (Elizabethtown, Pa.) corralled the ball. One minute later, Regis had a corner kick that Donley made a leaping punch to clear the attack.
The Lynx are now 3-0-1 against the Pride in their last four regular season matches.
Lesley has a quick turnaround as they return to action tomorrow as they travel to Nashua, N.H. for a match with Rivier University at 4:00p. The Pride will be back on the road on Wednesday, October 8th as they take on Lasell College in Newton, Mass. for a 4:00p start.