Much of this fall has been stop-and-go for men’s soccer, highlighted by disappointing losses to key opponents. Yet after going 2-1 in what was a week of firsts, Wesleyan’s season smacks of new beginnings.

To starts things off, the Cardinals took out their recent frustrations against Western Connecticut State University on the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 13, as they rolled over the Colonials for a 3-0 victory. The win marked the first game this season in which the Cards scored more than two goals, as well as the first that was decided by a multiple-goal margin.

Leading the onslaught with his first two goals of the season was forward Noah Schlesinger ’13. Schlesinger got going in the 32nd minute when defender Cabell Maddux ’13 fed him a long pass from the Wesleyan half, about thirty yards away from WestConn’s goal. Schlesinger motored downfield to beat his defender before drilling the ball into the left side of the net.

The Colonials played a high line throughout the afternoon, which Wesleyan exploited successfully time and again. In the 48th minute, forward Evan Hazelett ’13 received the ball near the right side of the box from midfielder Austin Woolridge ’11 and beat his defender, giving himself enough time and room to circle around to the front of the net where he deposited it past the goalie. The Cards would add another in the 70th minute as Maddux gave Schlesinger another long ball, which he ran into WestConn’s box and chipped over the goalie’s head for his second goal.

Another highlight came in the 51st minute, as Wesleyan goalie Adam Purdy ’13 dove to his right to stop a waist-high shot, one of just two saves needed to preserve the shutout. WestConn had difficulty mounting many more offensive opportunities, taking just six shots on the afternoon thanks to stellar play throughout the backfield.

Following the commanding victory, the Cardinals headed up to Bates on Saturday for the first of their final four games this season—all of which are against NESCAC teams. While the Redbirds have generally underperformed in league competition thus far, they knew they still had the chance to turn things around with a final winning run against their league opponents.

On a windy day in Lewiston, Maine, Wesleyan prevailed yet again, blanking the Bobcats 1-0. Hazelett scored the lone goal—his team-leading third of the season—in the 10th minute off an assist in the box from Michael McCarthy ’14, following a defensive miscue from a Bates defender. The Cardinals maintained pressure throughout the rest of the first half, outshooting their opponents by a tally of 11-2. While the Bobcats regained their footing in the second half, the Wesleyan back four dug in deep and staved off several convincing attacks. Purdy needed to contribute just one save to maintain the shutout, and as time expired the team had established its first two-game win streak of the year.

While spirits were flying high on the trip back to Middletown, the men in red knew that the real test was yet to come. The Middlebury Panthers, a team ranked fifth nationally with a 10-1 record and a paltry two goals allowed on the season, were coming to town on Tuesday.

On an overcast afternoon on Jackson Field, Middlebury jumped out to an early lead as Panther Otis Pitney ’12 came up with the ball at the right post of Wesleyan’s goal following a melee inside the 18-yard box and drilled it into the left corner. Middlebury went on to outshoot the Cards 11-3 in frame, but Wesleyan regrouped at the break and played a more balanced second half.

In the 62nd minute, Cardinal midfielder Zach Dixon ’12 buried a free kick from 20 yards out, ending Middlebury’s scoreless streak of more than 330 minutes, and energized the Cardinal squad. However, the Panthers promptly took the wind out of Wesleyan’s sail a mere minute later, as midfielder Jon Portman ’13 responded with his own 20-yard goal, a rocket into the back of the Wesleyan net. Throughout the rest of regulation, the Cardinals played with tenacity, but failed to convert; in the end, Middlebury cruised to its fourth straight victory.

Coming off the week, Wesleyan stands at 2-5 in conference play and 6-6 overall. Furthermore, the win over Bates moves the team up to eighth place in the NESCAC standings, the last seed to make the conference playoffs. Stay tuned as the Cards take on Little Three rival Amherst College on Jackson Field this Saturday at 2:30 as they attempt to turn their postseason hopes into a reality.