Bates Men's soccer tips Curry, 2-1, on late goal by Lyons

MILTON, Mass. -- Making his first career start, Ben Lyons scored in the 84th minute on an assist by fellow first-year Drew Parsons to send the Bates men's soccer team to a 2-1 non-conference win at Curry College on Wednesday night.

The game was scoreless at halftime, but the Bobcats (7-3-1) took a 1-0 lead on junior Luke McNabb's (Glastonbury, Conn.) first goal of the season, which came on senior Luis Pereira's (Curitiba, Brazil) sixth assist of the year.

Curry (10-5) had managed to keep the score at 0-0 with a couple of big defensive plays. The
Colonels' goalkeeper made a great save to deny Pereira in the third minute. That was followed by a goal-line clearance by Curry back Giancarlo Orsini, which prevented a goal by Parsons (Farmington, Maine).

Curry evened the score at 1-1 with about 15 minutes remaining in regulation. Matt Cotnoir's shot was deflected, but Roy Butlin scored off the rebound.

With 83:23 left in the game, Parsons found Lyons (San Rafael, Calif.) cutting in off the left wing, and Lyons drilled in the game-winner on a one-touch shot from 15 yards out.

Bates, which has reached the seven-victory mark for the first time since 2008, will host Tufts on Saturday at 2pm, followed on Sunday by a home match against another NESCAC rival, Amherst, at 3pm.