MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The number of different adjectives one can use to describe this Wesleyan women's soccer season is getting slimmer by the day, as the Cardinals continue on in what is already a dream season, defeating Stevens 1-0 at home this afternoon while earning a spot in the third round (Sweet 16) of the NCAA Tournament next weekend. Awaiting the Cardinals (16-1-2) is a matchup against No. 2 nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins (16-1-2) on Saturday, November 20. The time and location of that Sweet 16 matchup is still to be determined.
Playing in their first-ever NCAA Tournament, Wesleyan has shown incredible poise, looking like an experienced team with years of success on a national level. Limiting the Ducks, who scored three times in their NCAA First Round win over Ithaca on Saturday, to just three shots on-target for the match, the Cardinals were to generate a majority of the scoring chances, only to finally put one home in the 81
st minute.
Audrey Lavey (#16) was instantly met by her teammates following her 81st minute goal that proved to be the game-winner
On what was the Cardinals'' 10
th corner kick of the match, the right-footed in-swinging kick of
Andi Wiley '22 found the head of
Emily Ribatt '21, G'22 from just inside the 18. With a host of bodies in front of the Stevens goalkeeper Izzy DiDario,
Audrey Lavey '23 managed to stick her right foot up and deflected the ball towards the left post. With no time to react, DiDario was left helplessly watching the ball deflect off the post and in for the go-ahead goal with 9:17 remaining.
With little time left, Stevens pressed for the equalizer in the final minutes but Wesleyan's defense produced multiple blocks, not allowing any of the Ducks' three shots in the final four-plus minutes to hit their target. As the final seconds wound down, the Cardinals were greeted with resounding cheers from the home faithful while the Cardinal bench sprinted on-field to celebrate their second round win as a team.
Cardinal reserves sprinting on-field to celebrate as a team
On a blistery cold New England day, neither side produced much in the attacking third of the field for the first 20+ minutes and it was only until the final eight-plus minutes where the game began to open up with the Cardinals on the front-foot. Wiley had the first big chance of the day as her shot from close range was turned aside by an alert DiDario in net as the Wiley shot came from just 15 feet away.
Just 30 seconds later,
Kate Hausladen '23 had a great chance as her shot towards the top left corner was saved and perhaps the best chance of the half came on a corner as
Ally Stanton '24 rose above the Duck defenders and smacked a header on-net that DiDario turned away with a dive to her left, punching the shot away with a strong right hand.
The Wesleyan onslaught of pressure continued after the halftime break as Wiley and Hausladen again had great chances to score, only to see both of their attempts stone-walled by DiDario who played well all afternoon, making two of her eight saves on each Cardinal scoring chance.
One of the prime scoring chances for Wesleyan in the first half as Kate Hausladen '23 had her shot in-traffic saved by Stevens GK Tori DiDario
Stevens then had an opportunity suddenly present itself as the Ducks moved the ball upfield quickly and with the Cardinal defense trying to recover, the ball came out to the left wing where Jana Mucci one-timed a shot attempt that had great shape but blazed just over the crossbar in the 58
th minute.
Another prime scoring opportunity came the Ducks' way in the 73
rd minute when Ally Wanzor received the ball just outside the 18 and had a low, curling shot headed towards the right post but the shot zipped past the woodwork by mere inches as the game remained scoreless.
It only seemed fitting, considering the number of scoring chances the Cardinals had in the first half off of corner kicks, for the game-deciding goal to be made off a set piece. Wesleyan produced a 11-1 advantage in corner kicks for the match and with Wiley's delivery finding the head of Ribatt, Lavey's nudge to the left post was just what the Cardinals needed to take the lead and secure their place in the Sweet 16.
Emily Ribatt '21, G'22 (right) hugs Audrey Lavey '23 (left) in the postgame celebrations
Lavey's goal is her eighth of the season while Ribatt registered her fifth assist and Wiley's in-swinging corner is her eighth assist of 2021. All of which are single-season career-highs for the Cardinal point scorers on the day.
Sarah Hammond '22 picked up the win in net, moving her record to 15-1-2 on the season, while she kept a clean sheet for the second consecutive NCAA Tournament match. Hammond continues what is the best single-season for a Wesleyan goalkeeper in program history while she picks up her 27
th career win and 13
th career shutout.
Much credit for Hammond's shutout belongs to the Cardinal back line –
Chloe Odabashian '23,
Cheyanne Ollie '23,
Julia Meehan '21,
Caty Clements '25 and defensive midfielder
Melissa Wilhelm '22 – who made plays all over the field limiting counter attacks as the Ducks managed just three shots on-target and one corner kick for the match.
Wesleyan's season continues on next weekend as the Cardinals will face No. 2 Johns Hopkins in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 20. This will be the first all-time meeting between the two sides.
