CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Lesley men's soccer team will face its toughest test to date, playing host to No. 2 nationally ranked Amherst College (7-0-0, 4-0-0 NESCAC) Tuesday night at 8:00 at Edward Field at BB&N.
Meet No. 2/3 Amherst College: The Lord Jeffs (No. 2 NSCAA/No. 3 d3soccer.com) are led by reining NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference) Player of the Year Spencer Noon, who led the conference in points (35) as a junior in 2011. Behind Noon's NESCAC-leading 15 goals, Amherst advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament, losing 2-1 to Stevens.
Battle of program leaders: With 83 points and 35 goals entering his senior season, Noon is Amherst's all-time points leader and goal scorer. Lesley's Ari Sinanis, meanwhile, broke Lesley's all-time points record in the Lynx September 19 win over Emerson with his 83rd career point, which came on an assist to Darius Koep.
That's some company: Amherst's No. 2 national ranking marks not only the highest-ranked opponent in men's soccer history, but also the highest-ranked opponent to pay visit to Lesley in any sport.
On Saturday: Lesley dropped host Becker College, 3-0, on the road in Leicester, MA behind two first half goals from Sinanis. The senior now sports four goals over his last two games, both Lynx wins.
The Lord Jeffs, meanwhile, travelled to Medford, knocking off Tufts University 2-0 in a battle of undefeated NESCAC powers.
Weekly honorees meet: Amherst's Jae Heo piled up seven points on two goals and three assists in a perfect 2-0 week for the Lord Jeffs, earning last week's NESCAC Player of the Week award. Lesley freshman Ryan Richardson was last week named NECC Rookie of the Week after assisting on Jimmy Paulsen's game-tying goal and scoring the game-winner, the first goal of his career, in the Lynx 2-1 win at Southern Vermont.
Last meeting: Amherst 4, Lesley 0; September 3, 2011. Lesley was stellar through 35 minutes but the Jeffs turned it on starting in the 36th. Amherst turned what was a scoreless tie after 35 minutes into a 2-0 halftime lead and then a 4-0 Lord Jeffs win behind a pair of goals from Casey McNamera.
Then a freshman, Lesley's Jordan Santos tied for team-high honors with Ali Sozeri with two shots. Ari Sinanis and Herbin Berreondo registered the Lynx only two shots on goal.
Up next: Lesley's schedule gets little easier. After Tuesday's run in with the No. 1 ranked team in New England in the Lord Jeffs, the Lynx travel to Babson College, seeking revenge from last season's 5-1 NCAA Tournament defeat against the Beavers.