Story courtesy of Rob Palardy, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
NASHUA, N.H. - The Lesley University men's soccer team is barely halfway through their 2009 schedule, but with their 3-2 triumph over Rivier College the Lynx have tied their program-best total of seven wins previously set in 2007. Lesley is now 7-2-1 (1-0 NECC) and will go for a record eighth win this Saturday at Southern Vermont College.
At 9:15, Lesley freshman Darius Koep (PITTSTOWN, N.J./Del-Val) scored the first of his two goals after receiving a pass from Tyler Reeves (COVENTRY, Conn./Coventry).
Rivier returned the favor in the 13th minute on a Chris Nugent (CAMBERLEY, Surrey, England/Frogmore) score from Mike Birecki (ANDOVER, Mass./Andover).
Lesley would retake the lead just moments later at 14:50 as Reeves scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season. Ari Sinanis (GUILFORD, Conn./Guilford) earned the assist on the play, his fourth of 2009.
The Lynx continued their early offensive attack on the Raiders defense with another Koep goal in the 19th minute which would prove to the game-winner. Koep's goal, his second of the game and third in the past two games, went unassisted.
Raiders junior Gustavo Marques (LOWELL, Mass./Lowell) trimmed Lesley's lead to 3-2 with a goal in the 31st minute assisted by Eric Moreno (LYNN, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) but both team's went scoreless in the second half.
Lesley keeper Zachary Almeida-Beers (REHOBOTH, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) recorded five of his six saves in the second half and his counterpart John Jarvis (HENNIKER, N.H./Bellows Free Academy) made nine saves despite allowing three goals.
The Lynx held a slight shot advantage at 22-19, but had a season-high 13 corner kicks to Rivier's three.
The victory moved Lesley's record against GNAC opponents to 3-0 on the season having already beaten Emerson College and Mount Ida College.
Lesley will go for a program-best eighth win on Saturday, October 3 at Southern Vermont College starting at 3:00 pm.
To learn more about the Lesley University men's soccer program, please visit their website.