Norton, Mass. – September 22, 2012 – Despite the game’s first goal from Joe LaBella, the Springfield College men’s soccer team lost to host Wheaton College, 3-1 on Saturday at Keefe Field in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action.

  A winner in two straight games, Wheaton is now 5-2 overall and 1-1 in league play, while Springfield slips to 1-7 and 0-2.

  After each team fired off four shots through the first 19 minutes, the guests broke the stalemate with an unassisted tally from LaBella at 19:09.

  Wheaton answered with a pair of strikes just 56 seconds apart in the 32nd minute.  Senior Will Nesbitt headed home a corner kick offering from sophomore Luke Finkelstein at 31:03 to knot the score at one.

  Senior Federico Kelly provided the Lyons with the game-winner at 31:59, when he and freshman teammate Stephan Nkom successfully executed a 2-on-1 at the top of the box before Kelly found the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

  The Lyons tacked on an insurance tally in the second half, as sophomore Ben Altneu sent a through ball to classmate Travis Blair, who in turn scored his team-best fourth goal of the fall at 80:42.   In a game that saw four team saves, including two by each side, Lyon freshman goalie Matt Dickey earned the win after turning aside four Pride shots.  Springfield sophomore Brett Bascom made six saves.

  Wheaton finished with advantages of 19-15 in shots and 8-1 in corner kicks.

Springfield will turn right around and play a non-conference game on Sunday versus Endicott at home beginning at 1:00 pm.