In the toughest Division III men’s soccer conference in the country, one loss means everything. After an overtime loss to Williams, the best season in Wesleyan men’s soccer history will end with a NESCAC tournament seed no higher than second.
This past weekend featured two of the toughest back-to-back games that a team could go through, and the Cards (9-1-3) came away with a tie against Amherst before falling to Williams on Sunday. The squad played over 200 minutes of soccer in a twenty-four hour period, and the only goal that an opponent intentionally scored came on the last play of the second game.
With a win against Bowdoin next Saturday, the team can secure the number two seed in the NESCAC tournament, while the winner of Saturday’s showdown between Amherst and Williams will determine the top seed.
Saturday, in front of one of the largest crowds ever to witness a Wesleyan soccer game, Wesleyan and Amherst played to a double overtime 0-0 tie. The teams matched other perfectly, and both team managed 14 shots.
Wesleyan had a great opportunity to come away with the victory early in the first overtime. Tri-captain Peter Glidden ’07 took a hard shot to the left of the goal that was deflected by Sam Griswold ’08 towards the upper right side of the net. It hit the bottom of the crossbar, bounced down towards the mouth of the goal, and then at the last second was headed out by an Amherst defender.
Amherst quickly cleared the ball, extinguishing the threat and deflating the Cardinal attack. Of Wesleyan’s 14 shots, five were on goal. The Lord Jeff’s goalkeeper Jeff Grover saved four, but the most crucial stop was credited to the team’s defense.
“Our defense played great but it was frustrating that we couldn’t net one,” Chris Brown ’07 said.
On Sunday morning in western Massachusetts, Wesleyan played their most important game of the year to date against a Williams, who boast the most wins in the NESCAC this year. Williams (12-1) took advantage of an early own goal by Wesleyan en route to a 2-1 overtime win.
With ten minutes left in the first half, Chris Keeler ’07, one of Wesleyan’s top defenders, inadvertently put the ball in the Wesleyan goal as he attempted to clear it. A perfectly placed header by Sam Griswold ’08 off an Alan Ashenfelter ’09 corner kick tied the score with just two minutes left in regulation. Although the Cards had the momentum going into overtime, Williams ended the game just two minutes into the extra period on a goal by Patrick Huffer.
The loss did not deter the team’s high hopes for the NESCAC tournament. They feel as though they could have won both games last weekend, and know that they have the talent to beat both teams.
“Only the meek get pinched,” Glidden said. “The bold survive.”
A number two seed would greatly increase their odds at survival, but they can’t look past a tough Bowdoin team that’s 10-2 on the season. The Cards take on the Polar Bears at home this Saturday at 11 a.m.
Leave a Reply