Men's Soccer: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Eagles Win NECC Title

 MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

- Jerrhag's Overtime Header Gives Eagles First Ever Championship -

Nashua - Two teams. 24 hours. Two titles.

The Daniel Webster College community could get used to this.

Rookie Joel Jerrhag's (Ystad, Sweden) redirected header off an Alex Jackson (Kent, Ohio) free kick with just 50 seconds remaining in overtime delivered the Daniel Webster College men's soccer team its first ever conference championship as the top-seeded Eagles upended second-seeded Lesley University 2-1 Sunday before nearly 350 sun-splashed patrons at unseasonably warm Eagle Field.

The New England Collegiate Conference championship was the second in less than 24 hours for the College's athletics program with both coming on campus. The Eagle's women's volleyball team toppled Newbury in the NECC championship on Saturday.

Jerrhag's game-winner provided not only the ending to a fantastic struggle between two evenly-matched programs, it also provided the exclamation point on the revival of a program that has been decidedly bullish over the past three seasons.

Third year head coach Bill Lawler inherited a program that had posted a 1-15 mark prior to his arrival and had garnered just five total wins over three prior seasons. After a 2-13-2 mark in his first year, the Eagles improved to 9-8 last season and now the 12-5 Eagles are champions.

"It was a battle and we expected that," said Lawler when asked about the team's general approach to a Lynx squad that had upended the Eagles 1-0 during the regular season - DWC's only league loss this year. "I told the team we just need to stay with what we do. We're a sound defensive team and we needed to say organized and do our jobs. We knew if we could do that consistently we'd have a chance to win."

Lawler pointed out that Jerrhag's winner was no different in that approach.

"A little earlier in the game he (Jackson) had the same opportunity but we tried to play it short," Lawler said. "This time we just started to back in and we were able to get a header on it. It's a play we've worked on and Alex did a good job placing it. Joel did the rest."

Moreover, the victory was especially sweet for Eagle senior captain Andre Garcia (Springfield, Mass.), the sole remaining member of a program that posted just one win his freshman season.

"Unbelievable," said Garcia, who also missed his entire junior season with a knee injury, remaining on the sideline to serve as the squad's lone captain. He came back this year to finish with six goals, the third highest on the team. "I didn't think I'd ever see the day, but it all came together in the end. We fought hard and showed heart. We just came through together as a team and brought the first championship here to Daniel Webster."

It was Garcia that helped the Eagles strike first in the 22nd minute when a Jackson free kick from the far left corner entered heavy traffic in front of the Lynx goalmouth. Garcia got a toe on it and nicked it to Ryan Kunker (Clifton Park, N.Y.) who popped it into an open slot for his second of the season.

Lesley saw two golden scoring opportunities thwarted in the opening frame. A Lynx corner kick led to a loose ball in front and as Lynx forward Joe Petit closed in and let loose, Eagle defender Elliot Kilgore jumped in the way taking the kick direct to the midsection and deflecting it away. Shaken up initially, Kilgore rose and kept playing, the Eagles lead intact.

11 minutes later, Lesley's Ryan Rodgers sent a nifty pass straight up the middle to a streaking Connor Stockton who had a partial breakaway but Eagle keeper Joe Keene (Bristol, N.H.) challenged forcing a quick kick from Stockton into a point-blank save.

The Eagles held a 1-0 advantage at the break.

Lesley tied it just 26 seconds into the half when Tyler Reeves alertly jumped on a ball that was sent in long on Keene. The ball popped loose and Reeves buried a quick strike to the far left corner to give the Lynx new life.

Lesley pressed throughout much of the second half and almost took the lead with 39 minutes left when Ari Sinanis roped a 20 yarder straight on that hit the top cross bar and followed with another rifle that just cleared the bar with seven minutes to go.

The Eagles also had their chances in regulation. Nick Klesh (Bedford, N.H.) saw two opportunities off cross passes just go wide with six minutes and later four minutes left before the extra session.

Keene sparkled again for the Eagles, making nine saves on the day after posting seven in the NECC semifinals. Zach Almeida-Beers made six saves for the Lynx.

Lesley finished with 17 total shots to the Eagles' 12 but had just a 10-8 advantage on goal.

The Eagles, who now await word on a possible at-large ECAC New England Championship tournament bid, continued their best overall season in history as they improved to 12-5 overall.

Lesley, in its fourth season as a varsity program, moved to 15-4-2 overall having improved dramatically from a 6-13-1 mark last year.

Daniel Webster midfielder and junior Samson Kiberu (Waltham, Mass.) earned tournament most valuable player honors for his strong play throughout the Eagles semifinal and championship victories.

The all tournament team also included Spencer Bernard (Windsor Locks, Conn.), Kunker, and Jackson for Daniel Webster, Sinanis, Almeida-Beers, Zach Rocha (New Bedford, Mass.) and Scott Wheeler (E, Hampton, Conn.) from Lesley, Joseph Lawer and Shaundize Moosavizadeh from Newbury College, and Nick Haggerty and Ben Naaktgeboren from Mitchell College.