MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Wesleyan men's soccer team continued their unbeaten start to the season with an 8-2 domination of the visiting Clark Cougars on Monday from Jackson Field. The eight goals for the Cardinals (5-0) is the most the team has scored since beating Trinity 8-2 back on November 17, 1972, nearly 50 years ago. Clark (1-6) continues to struggle, losing their fourth consecutive game.
 
Goals came from all over the Wesleyan lineup as seven different Cardinals scored, with Kyle Burbage '25 netting a brace for the lone multi-goal scorer on the team. In addition, seven different players tallied one assist, giving Wesleyan 12 different players who tallied at least one point on the night. Reigning NESCAC Co-Player of the Week GK Liam Devanny '23 made two saves in his 45 minutes of work in the first half, extending his shutout streak to 223 consecutive minutes.
 
The barrage of goals began in the 10^th minute as Burbage was on the receiving end of a great rush from Dane Harmaty '24 who carried in towards the end line before centering to Burbage who knocked in his right-footed attempt off the inside of the left post and in for the first goal.
 
Soren Tollis '25 scored his second of the season as Phillip Cubeddu '23 lofted in a corner from the near side which was deflected a few times before falling to Tollis' feet. The sophomore made no mistake, passing the ball low and to the near post to make it 2-0 Cardinals.
 
Wesleyan made it 3-0 in the 30^th minute as another corner was converted into a goal. Ethan Barrett '24 sent in the cross where Evan O'Brien '24 was waiting for a header which he turned in for his second goal of the year.
 
Clark responded with their first in the 56^th minute, cutting the deficit down to two, but Wesleyan answered right back less than six minutes later as a foul in the Cougars' defensive box was whistled for a penalty. Stepping to the spot was Harmaty who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, finishing to the goalkeeper's left to make it 4-1.
 
Three more Cardinal goals followed in a span of less than 19 minutes as Burbage secured his brace, finishing into a wide open net after Lucas Ruehlemann '25 touched his way past a Clark defender. Zach Wheeler '25 scored his second in as many games as Max Hofstetter '24 dished to his left, putting it on a plate for the sophomore who scored on a looping shot into the opposite corner. Hofstetter then scored himself, dribbling in and firing a 20-yard strike that deflected off the left post and in.
 
Jake Lundberg '23 finished the game off in the 88^th minute with his first career goal as he took a feed from Tegh Singh '25 and slotted the ball home with a low shot. Singh recorded his first career assist on the play.
 
The Cardinals face a very difficult weekend of play ahead as Wesleyan looks to remain undefeated with consecutive away matches starting with Trinity on Saturday at 2 PM before heading to Hamilton to face the Continentals on Sunday at 1:30 PM.