MEDFORD, Mass. – A strong offensive first half featuring goals by seniors Harrison Sidell (Newhall, Calif.) and Colin Ziegler (Waldmohr, Germany) gave the Lesley University men's soccer team enough to hold off Newbury College 2-1 and notch their first New England Collegiate Conference of the season on Saturday night at Hormel Stadium.
Sidell found the back of the net for the second time in as many games with an unassisted tally in the 24th minute of play to give the guests a 1-0 lead.
Ziegler scored his first of the season with just 17-seconds remaining in the first half on a cross from the right corner, which found Ziegler in the middle of the box. Ziegler was able to cash in, doubling the Lynx lead to 2-0 just before halftime. Junior Anthony Vitta (Oceanside, N.Y.) was credited with the assist.
The Lynx possessed the majority of play in the first half, having much stronger numbers than the Nighthawks after 45 minutes. The Lynx outshot Newbury 10-6, including a 7-1 edge in shots on goal.
The second half was a different story for both sides, as Newbury seized the momentum of the match and finally had a breakthrough in the 60th minute after senior Ethan Forrest (East Bridgewater, Mass.) netted his ninth goal of the season, cutting the Lynx lead in half on a goal from 15 yards out on a blocked shot that eventually found Forrest in the middle of the box.
The Nighthawks would continue to apply pressure on the Lesley defense with a multitude of chances, but none better than in the 83rd minute that started with freshman Nilton De Andrade (Boston, Mass.) ringing the right post. That deflection by the post then found Forrest, who bounced a shot in on Lynx goalie James Webb (San Francisco, Calif.), who successfully deflected it away to Alex Davis (Gloucester, Mass.) who shot high from 15 yards out.
The Nighthawks nearly tied the game once again in the waning seconds of the match when a free kick from Davis that cleared the crossbar with two seconds remaining.
The second half belonged to Newbury, who managed 11 shots, but just four on goal, compared to three shots and none on goal for Lesley.
Webb held on for the win, improving his record to 2-7-1, while Jarrod Smith (Watertown, N.Y.) was delivered the loss for Newbury, downing his record to 4-5-1.
The Lynx (2-9-1, 1-2-0 NECC) will look to make it two straight on Wednesday when they head to Emmanuel College at 7:00p. The Nighthawks (7-6-1, 1-2-0 NECC) continue their conference schedule on Tuesday when they face Elms College at Hormel Stadium in Medford. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m.
Release courtesy Newbury College Sports Information