CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University junior Harrison Sidell (Newhall, Calif.) scored a goal in each half to power the Lynx to a 2-0 win over Rivier University tonight in non-conference action at Edward Field. The winning result improves the Lynx to 3-7-0 on the year as they have now won two of their last three matches. The Raiders drop to 1-8-0 overall with the loss.
Sidell put the Lynx on the board first at 9:00. The junior midfielder settled a feed from senior Tyler Zielinski (Belleville, N.J.) and placed a beautiful shot into the far right side of the net to give the Lynx an early 1-0 lead. The tally was Sidell's third of the season.
The Raiders had an opportunity ten minutes later when junior Alex Armstrong (Wakefield, R.I.) got off a shot from the middle of a scrum on the heels of Rivier free kick, but his attempt was blocked by a Lesley defender to keep the visitors scoreless.
The Lynx appeared to take a two goal advantage in the 41st minute of play when Baker headed in a free kick from sophomore Anthony Vitta (Oceanside, N.Y.), but the junior defender was called offside and the Lesley carried a 1-0 lead into the break.
Lesley finally put up an insurance marker at the 65th minute of play. Baker sent a spectacular free kick to the right side of the box to senior Spencer Irwin (Somers, N.Y.) who sent a flick to the middle of the box to find Sidell who finished with his second goal of the match.
The Raiders threatened to cut the Lynx lead in half with just seven minutes to play in regulation as sophomore Alex Baker (Danvers, Mass.) used a one-timed strike on a bouncing ball at the top of the box, but his attempt sailed north of the crossbar.
Lesley senior Chase Donley (Elizabethtown, Pa.) earned the win for the hosts while posting his third shutout of the season. His counterpart Gary Archambault (Auburn, N.H.) suffered the loss for the Raiders.
The Lynx will return home on Wednesday for the second game of their current five-game home stand when they host Pine Manor College in another non-conference affair at 8:00p. Rivier will return to the pitch on Saturday when they play host to Lasell College at 1:00p.