The Wesleyan men’s soccer team won a nail-biter over the Springfield College Pride on Wednesday. With just 1:27 left on the clock, Morgan Owen scored his second goal of the game and the season, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 lead for good.
The first half was characterized by intense pressure that the Cardinals placed on the Springfield defense leading to many scoring opportunities. However, before Wesleyan was able to net a goal, Pride midfielder Tony Distasio ’08 scored his second of the season. Morgan Owen followed that with his first goal of the season with 12:20 to play in the first half. Owen did not start the game, but coming in as a sub he played superbly, bringing a new intensity to the field after Wesleyan’s attack seemed to be getting stale.
Wesleyan took a 2-1 lead early in the second half on Jared Ashe’s first goal of the season, but Springfield countered just over a minute later to knot the score at two on junior Matt Aucoin’s first of the season.
Aucoin’s score came on an errant pass by Wesleyan, which he easily put past goalkeeper Matt Gnall ’08. Gnall, though unable to keep that shot out of the net, had a solid performance overall, showcasing his side-to-side mobility and quick distribution of the ball to defenders.
At the forward position, standout newcomer Matt Nevin ’09 displayed blazing speed coming down the side and created havoc in the Pride’s defensive end. Registering four shots on goal, he was very close to several breakaways, but was victim to some questionable offside calls. Despite the close score, the Cardinals had a huge advantage in shots, firing twenty to the Pride’s eleven. Nevin’s four shots led the team.
“Morgan Owen and Matt Nevin played great up top with me and Brandon Smith,” said Jared Ashe ’07. “It was one of the best performances in my three years collectively.”
While the team appreciates the win, the game was not perfect.
“We expect to step out on to the field against a team like Springfield and solidly take the game,” said Josh Stephens ’07. “It’s not enough to just get a win, for if we are to compete against some of the stronger teams in our league we have to consistently play our best soccer.”
Springfield College dropped to 0-4 overall, while Wesleyan moved to 1-1.
Next up for the team is local NESCAC rival Trinity in Hartford on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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