Goal scoring remains a major weakness for an otherwise stacked Cardinals lineup

Jonas Powell, Photo Editor

The Cardinals opened up the 2015 season on Tuesday with a close, but—it must be said—disappointing 1-0 loss to the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University. For Wesleyan fans and unaffiliated spectators alike, the match was about as disappointing as the second season of HBO’s True Detective.

Straight from the kickoff, Wesleyan was dominant in possession, as Eastern sat back and packed it in, absorbing the Cards’ early pressure. With the day’s heat and humidity lingering, the game slowly lost its initial high pace and grew sluggish. However, the lethargic pace only favored Eastern. While Wesleyan continued to dominate possession and created several scoring chances in the first half, this possession also exposed a lack of urgency and creativity in the final third. The Cards had few clear-cut goalscoring opportunities, save for a chance from captain Hans Erickson ’16, who had a great look on a right-footed shot from the top of the penalty area that flew over the crossbar.

Jonas Powell, Photo Editor

The second half started off looking much like the first, but the feel of the game changed completely when Cooper D’Ambrosio finished a free kick into the top left corner in the 57th minute of play. His curling effort beat the Cardinals’ defensive wall and goalkeeper Eric Jasinski ’17. D’Ambrosio struck the ball well, as the in-swinger cut back and dipped toward goal late in its trajectory.

Despite the impressive strike, the official’s decision to call the free kick that lead to the goal is still in question. Most Wesleyan supporters seemed to feel the official’s decision was harsh, but nevertheless captain Ben Toulotte ’16’s slight bump on an Eastern player while challenging for a header was deemed worthy of a direct free kick in a dangerous position.

In fact, a number of other officiating decisions called the referee’s consistency into question. Garrett Hardesty ’18 was taken down by Eastern’s goalkeeper inside their penalty area about a minute before the free kick that lead to the Eastern goal. Eastern goalkeeper Ryan Murphy left the mouth of the goal to challenge Hardesty, visibly tripping him up without touching the ball. The no-call was met with great outcry from Wesleyan players and fans alike, especially after the referee made what was a seemingly a makeup call, awarding the Cardinals a corner on the play, despite the fact that Hardesty had clearly touched the ball out of play.

Jonas Powell, Photo Editor

Throughout the rest of the half, the Cardinals continued to pressure an Eastern team increasingly desperate to hear the final whistle. Clear goal-scoring chances came from both Charlie Gruner ’17 and Danny Rubenstein ’17 in the final 30 minutes. Rubenstein’s second chance in particular seemed like the best to negate D’Ambrosio’s winner, as the left back ended a streaking run down the flank with a hard, right-footed shot bound for the roof of the net if not for Murphy’s smart save. His stop here was the best of five in a solid performance.

Despite a frustrating and deeply disappointing loss for Wesleyan, the day was still an important one for much of the team. Newcomer Komar Martinez-Paiz ’19 got his first collegiate start, slotting in at left midfield, while his classmates George Avrassoglou ’19, Eric Gooden ’19, and Nick Hawkins ’19 came off the bench for their debuts. Junior keeper Jasinski also played his first full collegiate game, and saw off two dangerous chances in the first half.

Heading into their trip to Haverford College this weekend, the team can take solace in some very impressive performances and quality play from Tuesday’s defeat. Both Brandon Sousa ’16 and Adam Cowie-Haskell ’18 followed good link-up play with some genuine chances, while a new-look back line and goalkeeper settled in smoothly, defending and organizing well.

The Cardinals are facing an opponent who is at least as strong as, if not a stronger than than Eastern in Haverford college, who have started the season strong with a record of 2-1, losing only to 21st-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology in a 3-2 conference barn burner.

Rubenstein, a four-year starter at the Haverford School, a high school just across the way from the college, knows the place well.

“I’m pumped to play a collegiate game back in my teenage stomping ground,” he said. “It’s going to be amazing to have friends and family see me play against Haverford for the first time.”

It does not get much bigger for the Cardinals than Saturday’s clash, playing against a high quality opponent in a match with major consequences for Wesleyan’s postseason hopes. If the Cardinals can establish themselves early in the game Saturday and improve on some promising creative work, the team might just return to Middletown with a win and the season truly back on track.