Box Score LEWISTON, Maine – Sophomore Peabo Knoth scored in the 1st minute, but goals from junior Brandon Sousa and senior Matt Lynch lifted Wesleyan University men's soccer to a 2-1 win over Bates College on Saturday afternoon at Russell St. Field.
Knoth (Portland, Maine) gave the Bobcats (0-5-1, 0-4-0 NESCAC) a 1-0 lead just over 30 seconds into the game, but the Cardinals (3-1-2, 2-1-0 NESCAC) found an equalizer on a tally from Sousa (Waterbury, Conn.) in the 18th minute and took the lead in the 67th minute off a shot from Lynch (Burlington, N.J.).
Shortly after the opening whistle, Bobcat junior goalkeeper Sam Polito (Far Hills, N.J.) played a ball past midfield which sophomore Jack Martell (Gray, Maine) flicked on to Knoth who gained control of the ball and chipped it over the keeper and into the net. The Waynflete School product scored for the second time in as many games.
Sousa leveled the score at the 17:44 mark as he sent a shot towards the goal from the left side of the box which eluded Polito and made its way to the top of the goal. Junior Hans Erickson (Amherst, Mass.) registered the first of his two assists on the day on the play.
In the game's only scoring of the second half, Erickson fired a shot on goal which Polito parried, but Lynch pounced on the rebound and knocked the ball to the back of the net from inside the goal area.
Wesleyan senior goalkeeper Emmett McConnell (Merion Station, Pa.) notched one save in the shutout win (3-1-2) while Polito (0-5-1) made five saves.
The Bobcats defended several attacking periods from the Cardinals as the visitors recorded seven shots between the 27th and 34th minutes and compiled eight shots in the first 14 minutes of the second half.
Bates nearly drew level late in the match, but a shot from junior Luis Pereira (Curitiba, Brazil) from the edge of the box in the 88th minute went just wide to the left.
For the game, Wesleyan held advantages in shots (27-5), shots on goal (7-2), and corner kicks (4-2).
Next, Bates plays at Maine Maritime Academy on Tuesday at 7 p.m. while Wesleyan hosts Western New England University on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
