BOSTON, Mass. – For the third time in as many years the Charles River Cup will exchange hands as Emerson College topped Lesley University 2-1 in the ninth annual battle between the two schools. Senior Dan Knight (Chester Springs, Pa.) provided both tallies for the hosts as the Lions reclaim the cup for the first time since 2013.
The Charles River Cup has been an evenly played series in its nine year history. The Lynx have won the Cup five times while the Lions have been victorious four times, but Emerson holds a slim 13-12 edge in collective goals scored dating back to 2007.
The win improves the Lions to 2-3-0 in 2015 while the loss dips the Lynx to a 1-5-0 mark on the season.
Lesley got on the board first as junior Harrison Sidell (Newhall, Calif.)beat Emerson keeper Carter Bowers (Gorham, Maine) with a shot into the lower-90 in the 16th minute of play to give the guests a 1-0 lead. The unassisted tally was Sidell's second in as many matches.
Eleven minutes later the Lions would tie it up as Knight found the back of the net for the first time of the match at 26:15. The 1-1 tie would last until the 71st minute when Knight added what was the game-winning goal as he headed home a feed from senior Jeremy Leder (Dix Hills, N.Y.) for his second marker of the game and third of the season.
The Lynx outshot their counterparts 14-8 on the night, including 9-2 in second stanza, but Bowers was strong in net for the Lions as he earned the win with seven saves. Lesley keeper Chase Donley (Elizabethtown, Pa.) was credited with three stops in the loss.
Lesley will open up New England Collegiate Conference play on Saturday when they square off with the defending-champion Daniel Webster College Eagles at 3:00p.
Charles River Cup History
2007: Emerson – 2-0
2008: Emerson – 1-0
2009: Lesley – 4-2
2010: Lesley – 2-1
2011: Lesley – 2-1
2012: Lesley – 2-1
2013: Emerson – 3-1
2014: Lesley – 1-1 (2-1 PK)
2015: Emerson – 2-1