Story courtesy of Rob Palardy, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In a match up with the first place team in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC), Lesley University men’s soccer defeated Daniel Webster College 1-0 and improved to 13-3-2 (5-1-1 NECC) following their final conference match of the regular season.

Daniel Webster maintained their hold on first place despite the loss and dropped to 9-5 (5-1 NECC).

The Lynx converted a corner kick attempt midway through the first half for the game’s only goal. Junior Tyler Reeves (COVENTRY, Conn./Coventry) crossed a corner kick into the goalie box and Darius Koep (PITTSTOWN, N.J./Del-Val) struck a header that deflected off an Eagles defender to the back of the net. Koep’s goal was his seventh of the season, pulling him into a team-high tie with teammate Ari Sinanis (GUILFORD, Conn./Guilford).

Daniel Webster turned up the heat in the second half with their best opportunity to score coming in the 70th minute of the match. Spencer Bernard (WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn./Windsor Locks) and Andre Garcia (SPRINGFIELD, Mass./Springfield) each fired close range shots but Lynx keeper Zachary Almeida-Beers (REHOBOTH, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) made successful saves.

Both keepers were solid in the match, but Almeida-Beers outdid his opponent by recording his sixth shutout of the season. The junior finished with two saves without allowing a goal.

For the Eagles, Joe Keene (BRISTOL, N.H./Newfound) made seven saves and allowed just the one goal.

The victory came on Senior Night for the Lynx who paid tribute to Zach Rocha (NEW BEDFORD, Mass./New Bedford) and Scott Wheeler (EAST HAMPTON, Conn./East Hampton). Rocha and Wheeler were the first four-year men’s soccer players to have a Senior Night in their honor. Over the past four years, Rocha and Wheeler were integral in the development and improvement of the men’s soccer program. Their service to the university is not done, however, as the Lynx will surely enter the playoffs as one of the top contenders for the NECC Championship.

Lesley wraps up the regular season with a non-conference match up with Curry College on October 29 starting at 6:30 pm. Daniel Webster next hosts Newbury College on Saturday, October 31 starting at 12:00 pm.