NASHUA, N.H. – The Lesley University men's soccer New England Collegiate Conference postseason run has come to an end. Backed by a first half tip-in score from senior captain Brad Hosey (Salem, N.H.) and a second half blast from sophomore Ian Hutchinson (Litchfield, N.H.), second-seeded Daniel Webster College shutout the third-seeded Lynx, 2-0, Friday afternoon at Eagles Field. With the win, the Eagles and will return to the tournament championship for the first time since 2010.
Lesley's 2014 campaign comes to a close at 10-6-4 overall and will wait upon a possible ECAC New England tournament bid next week.
Eagle net minder Sean Hamilton (Brookline, N.H.) earned his sixth shutout of the season making four saves for the winners. Junior Chase Donley (Elizabethtown, Pa.) took the loss for the Lynx, finishing with three saves.
The teams combined for 19 total shots but only nine were targeted on goal as a strong wind forced a majority of the match to be played in the midfield. The match was a physical one with 37 combined fouls and seven cards handed out.
Hosey's goal, which was the eventual game-winner, was only his second of the season. It came during a scrum in front just 11 minutes into the contest. Senior Joey Morgan, who was credited with an assist, set up the play with a 20-yard kick from the right side outside the box.
The shot hooked left and was knocked down by Donley. But Donley lost his footing and the ball squibbed out of his hands for just an instant. Hosey, who was crashing the left post, was in the right spot at the right moment, barely tapping the loose ball just over the line, giving the hosts huge momentum that carried through the rest of the half.
Hamilton, meanwhile stared down two Lesley scoring chances off the feet of senior Jordan Santos (Middlebury, Conn.) – who scored twice against DWC in a 4-2 Eagle victory last October 18th – and another off a Walker Panek opportunity and DWC took the 1-0 lead into the break.
Lesley pressed in the second getting a pair of attempts on Hamilton from junior Ryan Richardson (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Anthony Vitta (Oceanside, N.Y.), but both were knocked away.
DWC put up some much-needed distance in the 68th. Morgan, just passing midfield, found Hutchinson moving quickly up the left side. Hutchinson cut right and took a 15-yard pass from Morgan and sent a screamign right-footer that arched right and caught the upper right corner past a diving Donley for his fourth of the season.
Today marked the seventh consecutive season Lesley has reached the semifinal round – every year in the conference's existence. DWC was making its fifth appearance in the semifinals.
Release courtesy Daniel Webster College Sports Information