MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – It was a glorious return to Jackson Field for the Wesleyan men's soccer team as Matthew Rubinstein '23 broke through for the game=winning goal in the 80^th minute to lead the Cardinals past Trinity, 1-0, in a Wednesday afternoon NESCAC matchup. Wesleyan improves to 2-2-1 (1-2-1 NESCAC) on the year while Trinity drops to 1-4 (0-2 NESCAC).

HIGHLIGHTS:

• In a largely uneventful first half, neither side generated much offense as there was just six combined shots and just one was on-target in the opening 45 minutes
• Liam Devanny '23 made one of his two saves on the afternoon in the 14^th minute on a Dante Merlin shot from distance
• Play opened up in the second half as Dane Harmaty '24 came inches away from breaking the deadlock in the 55^th minute. Receiving a through ball on his left foot, Harmaty managed to get his shot off but Trinity keeper Bernardo Simoes came strong off his line to get a piece of the shot which then caromed off the right post and into Simoes' arms as he warded off a rebound opportunity
• Just 40 seconds later, Michael Traynor tried to sneak a shot to Devanny's left coming off his post but the junior keeper was alert to the attempt, holding his ground to make the save at his feet
• Play slowed down again until a five-minute stretch late in the half as Zach Wheeler '25 had some opportunities with the ball at his feet on the left wing to make something happen. Two of Wheeler's initial attempts went wide but the game-deciding moment came in the 80^th minute as Wheeler whizzed a low cross towards the center of the 18 where Rubinstein was waiting with a left-footed volley that found the back of the net
• The Bantams were in full-out desperation mode down the stretch, generating five shots and one corner but four of the five shots were blocked while none landed on-goal

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Rubenstein netted his first goal of 2021 as well as his second career game-winning tally
• Wheeler's assist is the first of his carerer
• Devanny wasn't forced into action much at all, making two saves for his second clean sheet of the season and the seventh of his career
• The Cardinals committed a season-high 15 fouls compared to seven for the Bantams
• Of the 22 total shots attempted between the two teams, just four landed on-goal for the contest
• Wesleyan improves to 46-33-8 all-time against Trinity and have won the last three consecutive meetings

UP NEXT:
Wesleyan welcomes Bowdoin for a 11 AM start on Saturday, Sept. 25. The two sides played to a 0-0 draw in 2019 while Wesleyan is 19-9-4 all-time at hoe in games played against the Polar Bears.