BOSTON, Mass. – Junior forward John Golden's (Whitman, Mass.) goal with 4:21 remaining in regulation held up as the game winner as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's soccer team fended off a late charge by visiting Lesley University, 2-1, in a quarterfinal round game of the 2009 ECAC Division III New England Men's Soccer Tournament.
The top-seeded Leopards jumped on the board just 3:11 into the game when junior midfielder Ben Nasman (Lenox, Mass.) struck for his sixth marker of the season. Nasman's goal came when sophomore defender Patrick Platner (Northford, Conn.) took a throw-in from the right side where junior midfielder Nick Brown (Somerset, Mass.) flicked the ball to Nasman, whose shot found an opening on the left side. A Lynx defender attempted to clear the ball but it was ruled that the ball had already crossed the goal line.
Lesley applied pressure in hopes of tying the game shortly thereafter and would put a pair of shots on goal in a three-minute span, but Wentworth junior keeper Brian Pearsall (Sanford, Maine) stopped both attempts. The Lynx had a golden opportunity in the 42nd minute, but a shot from in close sailed to the right of the goal. Lesley held an 8-7 shot advantage after the first 45:00 of play.
Wentworth controlled play early in the second half and had six shot attempts – five of which were on goal and stopped by junior Zachary Almeida-Beers (Rehoboth, Mass.). In the 72nd minute of play, Lesley had a golden opportunity to tie the game as a shot was headed toward an open net. However, a Wentworth defender headed the ball away before it crossed the goal line.
The Leopards had a chance to take a 2-0 lead with 10:00 left on a shot off a rebound, but the goal was waved off due to an offsides call. However, Wentworth would pick up its second goal of the night at the 85:09 mark when junior midfielder Jesse Paolella (East Greenwich, R.I.) served a corner kick from the right circle. Golden broke free and got a head on the ball, putting it home to the right side.
Just 22 seconds later Lesley made it interesting as senior defender Zach Rocha (New Bedford, Mass.) fed classmate Scott Wheeler (East Hampton, Conn.) who buried a shot to the right side. The Lynx would put another shot on goal in the 87th minute, but Pearsall kept it a one-goal game.
Pearsall made three saves to pick up his 13th win over the season. Lesley junior Zach Almeida-Beers (Rehoboth, Mass.) made 12 saves for Lesley. Wentworth outshot the Lynx, 16-6, in the second half and 23-14 for the game, while holding a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.
With the win Wentworth improves to 13-8 and advances to the ECAC semifinals for the second time in three seasons. The top-seeded Leopards will face The Commonwealth Coast Conference foe Anna Maria (11-8) on Saturday at Noon. The AMCATS knocked off Westfield State, 3-2. Earlier this season the AMCATS beat the Leopards, 2-0. The other semifinal matchup (3:00) features Castleton State (11-7-3) against Daniel Webster (12-5-1). Both games will be played at Sweeney Field.
Lesley sees its season end with a 15-5-2 record.