Men’s soccer put the brakes on a two game slide this Saturday, trouncing Colby College 5-2 on the road. Looking to make up for disappointing back-to-back losses against Trinity and Wheaton, the Cards exploded for their largest offensive output to date against the NESCAC rival Mules.
“We went up to Maine knowing that we needed a win to get back on track,” said co-captain Ozzie Parente ’09, who had two goals throughout the afternoon. “I think we all knew it would be our day when Tim Dodds [’11] gave us an inspiring pre-game speech.”
It must have been a good one, as the team came out blazing and played some physical and intense soccer: committing eight fouls in the first half, but taking six shots, three of which found the net within the opening 30 minutes of play.
Nick Whipple ’10 drew first blood at 11:30, striking home a pass from Asante Brooks ’10. Brooks was next to reach the back of the net about 11 minutes later, as he put home a goal off an assist from midfielder Geoff Zartarian ’11.
Not one to be left out, Matt Nevin ’09, the team’s leading scorer, increased the Mules’ burden to a three goal deficit. Notching a pass from Parente, Nevin drained his fourth of the season at 28:40.
Colby, however, managed to get one of the goals back before the half, as sophomore Nate Seiberling converted on a penalty kick with about 12 minutes left in the first.
The pounding continued into the second as Parente, not satisfied with a simple assist, padded the already plush Cardinal lead with two more goals that came in the 50th and 53rd minutes.
Down 5-1 and looking to first stop the bleeding, Colby regrouped, switching out their beleaguered junior keeper Doug Sibor, who had an afternoon he’d probably like to forget, for Dan Marden with a little over a half an hour to go. The Mules then set about the Sisyphusian task of digging themselves out from four goals behind. The team put five shots on and took four corner kicks in the second, in a campaign that got them a goal back in the 71st minute courtesy of freshman forward Josh Lyvers.
Despite signs of life late in the game, however, Colby could not get past Wesleyan’s stalwart defense and the combined goaltending efforts of starter Nigel Stacey ’11, Nick Boskovich ’10 and Tucker Morgan ’12.
With Saturday’s resounding victory, the Cards improve to 3-3-1 overall, and boost their NESCAC record to 2-1-1. The win puts them fourth in NESCAC standings behind the undefeated Middlebury Panthers, with whom Wesleyan drew in double overtime earlier in the season. Tied for second are Trinity College and the Williams Ephs, who host the Cardinals this coming Saturday in a critical match. Before that match, the Cards will travel to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for a contest Wednesday night.
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