By Johnny Alexandre '22

NORTON, Mass. – The No. 6 Connecticut College men's soccer team dropped its first match in action, losing on the road to the Wheaton College Lyons by a score of 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon at Keefe Field.
 
The first half went by quietly until the 18-minute mark when freshman Jack Kelesoglu (Westfield, N.J.) took advantage of a 35-yard perfectly-lofted free-kick into the box, heading the ball over a crowd of players, including Wheaton goalkeeper Diego Medina, and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead and his first career goal as a Camel. 
 
The lead would hold until less than a minute into the second half when Wheaton (4-1) was fouled to prevent a breakaway. After deliberation, the referee ruled the penalty to have taken place inside the 18-yard box, forcing a penalty kick for Wheaton, which Marlon Monterroso converted on to even the score at 1-1.
 
Roughly 20 minutes later, at the 66-minute mark, Wheaton's Avery Santoro would convert on a breakaway through-ball pass between two Camel defenders, giving Wheaton a 2-1 lead. 
 
Despite Connecticut College's best efforts and leading in nearly every positive statistical category, including 14-7 on shots and 5-1 on corners, Wheaton's 2-1 lead would hold until the end of the game, giving junior goalkeeper Sam Maidenberg (Orange, N.J.) his first loss of the season, and Medina for Wheaton the victory. Each goalkeeper finished with three saves apiece.    
 
Connecticut College (0-1) will next travel to Lewiston, Maine on Saturday to face off against the Bates Bobcats at 1:30 p.m.