MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – After seeing a 1-0 lead turn into a 2-1 deficit late in the second half, Lucas Ruehlemann's sweet right-footed finish in the 81^st minute proved enough in the end for the Wesleyan men's soccer team who salvaged a 2-2 draw with Little 3 rival and No. 13 ranked Amherst from Jackson Field on Saturday afternoon. Wesleyan (5-2-2, 2-2-2 NESCAC) is now unbeaten in their last six matches while the Mammoths (8-1-1, 4-1-1 NESCAC) take the Little 3 title via today's tie and a previous 2-1 home win over Williams.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Wesleyan went on the front foot and for the second straight game, got an early goal off a corner as the set piece looped into the box off the right foot of Ruehlemann to Evan O'Brien '24 at the back post. His header then went to the opposite post where Porte was waiting to slam home the early goal in the 14^th minute to make it 1-0 Wesleyan
• Amherst began to dominate possession as the Cardinals could afford to sit back and pack in the midfield now that they were ahead as the Mammoths outshot Wesleyan 7-3 in the first half but GK Liam Devanny '23 posted saves on all four shots on-target in the stanza
• That sustained pressure ultimately led to an equalizer just 40 seconds into the second half as Ada Okorogheye went to work on the Wesleyan back line, dribbling his way through the Cardinal defense and crossing to Gabe Gitler who had time to set up his shot that went to the upper right corner for the game-tying goal in the 46^th minute
• Now with the game tied, play was very physical all throughout the field as yellow cards came flying, four combined over a six-minute span between these two heated rivals
• Okorogheye again factored in an Amherst goal as he spun a left-footed cross into the box for Laurens ten Cate who headed the ball down into the grass. The ball then caromed to German Giammattei who punched home the go-ahead 73^rd minute tally
• Needing a goal, Wesleyan went on the front foot as a pair of shots on-goal came quickly after the Giammattei tally and ultimately a well-worked goal saw Ruehlemann flick to Nick Wallick '22 on the left wing. The defender then gave back to Ruehlemann who executed a perfect give-and-go with Dane Harmaty in the 18. With just the GK to beat, Ruehlemann made no mistake, slotting home his first career goal to make it 2-2 in the 81^st minute
• Tired legs prevailed in the remainder of play as just four shots were attempted in the two overtime periods combined as both sides walked away with a point in the 2-2 draw

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• This was easily the most-physical contest the Cardinals have played this season as Wesleyan was whistled for 26 fouls against Amherst's 20 while four yellow cards were given to Cardinal players compared to two for the Mammoths
• Amherst outshot Wesleyan 21-8 (11-5 in shots on-goal) while the corner kicks weighed in favor of the Mammoths 7-2
• Porte and Ruehlemann each scored their first career goal while O'Brien and Harmaty registered their first career assists
• With a goal and an assist today, Ruehlemann now has six points (one goal, team-leading four assists) in 2021
• Devanny was outstanding in net, making a season-high nine saves which was just one off his career-high while playing all 110 minutes in goal
• Wesleyan's incredible shutout streak came to an end in this one as the first Amherst goal signaled the first Cardinal goal allowed in 447:42 of action. The streak lasted four total matches as the previous last goal allowed for Wesleyan was back in a 1-1 draw at Williams on Sept. 18

UP NEXT:
The Cardinals will play host to Fitchburg State on Tuesday, Oct. 12 as the two sides will kickoff at 7:30 PM from Smith Field.