Coming off of two strong wins, the men’s soccer team traveled to Middlebury College (5-0, 3-0 NESCAC) in hopes of continuing their victorious ways. As has been the standard for the team this season, the men came out strong in the first half by pressuring the Panthers defense, but to no avail, as the Cardinals were unable to find the back of the net in a 2-0 conference loss. The team’s record now stands at 2-2 (1-2 NESCAC).
Both Kevin Lohela ’06 and Peter Glidden ’07 came extremely close to scoring the first goal of the game, but no Cardinal was able to put the ball home against a physical Panther defense. The Panthers also got a good early chance on a corner kick, but the Cardinal defense was able to clear the ball off the line.
The game opened up for the Panthers in the 42 minute, when a penalty kick was awarded to the Panthers. Although the referee’s decision that a hand ball had occurred in the box was suspect at best, there was nothing suspect about the result of the call, as the Panthers hammered in the first goal of the game.
In the second half, the men continued to battle in a game that grew fierce, as the referee liberally dispersed 11 yellow cards between the two teams. The size of the Middlebury team was at times daunting for the smaller men of Wesleyan, and the physical play wore on the team.
“It is always tougher to play on the road, especially when traveling as far as Middlebury and staying in a hotel the night before a big game,” said Josh Stephens ’07.
As the second half continued, the men intensified their defense, hoping to capitalize on a Middlebury mistake. This plan was put at an end when Middlebury scored its second goal of the game on a corner kick. The sloppiness of the goal typified the second half play, as the ball bounced in front of goalie Dan Penrod ’05, came off a defender’s chest, and was eventually tipped in by a Middlebury forward.
The team still holds high hopes for this season despite losing their second game to NESCAC competition.
“We’re playing well with these solid teams,” said Jared Ashe ’07. “There’s something missing and we have to figure it out if we don’t want to keep losing these close ones. We’re a very talented team and we need to find a way to win.”
The loss leaves the team standing in a three-way tie for sixth place in the early season conference standings, while Middlebury remains tied for first. The team’s next chance to improve in conference comes on Saturday against Connecticut College.
Before Saturday’s conference match, the team will attempt to find its winning way again as it travels to Coast Guard for a non-conference game on Wednesday afternoon.
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