Lesley completes remarkable comeback in two overtimes

Story courtesy of Rob Palardy, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Lesley University and Mount Ida College played an aggressive and intense match on Saturday afternoon as the Mustangs held a 1-0 lead late in second half, but the Lynx scored the game-tying goal with 28 seconds remaining in the match to force overtime and eventually win in two overtimes to win 2-1 and improve to 2-0-0 on the season.

Lesley senior captain Scott Wheeler (EAST HAMPTON, Conn./East Hampton) headed home the game-tying goal at 89:32 after a pair of touch passes from Ari Sinanis (GUILFORD, Conn./Guilford) and Ryan Rodgers (HOLLIS, N.H./High Mowing) found Wheeler in the goalie box. 

The goal came nearly 12 minutes after Mount Ida's Ryan Faer (NEWTON, Mass./Cambridge School-Weston) put his team ahead with a header off a free kick from Ricky Oliveira (NEW BEDFORD, Mass./New Bedford).  The goal was Faer's first of the season which was scored at 77:34.

Both teams battled through the first overtime with near scoring opportunities by Mount Ida's Oscar Taborda (GREENWICH, Conn./Greenwich) and Lesley's Dallas Eubanks (ST. PETERSBURG, Fla./Gibbs).

In the second overtime, however, Lynx striker Tyler Reeves (COVENTRY, Conn./Coventry) broke the left side of the field and created space for fellow striker Sinanis to redirect a cross pass into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.  For Sinanis, it was his second goal in two games and for Reeves it was his first assist of the season.

Mount Ida goalie Steven Enright (SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I./Prout) was solid in net with eight saves despite giving up two goals and Lesley's Zachary Almeida-Beers (REHOBOTH, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) only had to make four saves with the help of a strong backfield.

Lesley will next face Emmanuel College on the road on September 9 at 7:00 pm.  Mount Ida hosts UMass-Dartmouth at 3:30 pm on September 8.

To learn more about the Lesley University men's soccer program, please visit their website.