DANBURY, Conn. – Playing a man down for all but 1:21 of the game, the Wesleyan men's soccer team couldn't overcome WestConn in a 3-1 defeat on Tuesday night from the Westside Complex. Wesleyan (3-3-3) is winless in five straight games while the Wolves (9-1-2) have won six straight.
 
The Cardinals went down to 10 men in the 2^nd minute as Lucas Ruehlemann '25 dove to his left to attempt to save a header off the line, but the side official deemed the ball struck his arm and the head official raised a straight red card after a prolonged discussion.
 
On the ensuing penalty kick, Josh Nadison '26, who earned his second straight start in net, made a diving stop to his right that denied Kadin Talho and kept the game scoreless.
 
Playing down a man, Wesleyan attempted to sit back and play counterattacking soccer, which worked effectively for 25+ minutes but just minutes after WestConn's Chance Campbell hit the crossbar, the Wolves had their breakthrough with Kent Eannarino dribbling past multiple defenders before sliding home the opener in the 29^th minute.
 
Wesleyan's counterattacking nearly paid off in the 44^th minute as Zack Burd '25 had a ball played onto his right foot deep in the WestConn defensive box, but his shot with power was blocked away by a Wolves defender.
 
Caught in possession early in the second half, Mathis Blanc '26 came far off his line to try and break up an opportunity for WestConn but the sophomore keeper got too much of the Wolves' attacking player and the referee blew his whistle, pointing to the spot. On his second attempt on a PK, Talho made no mistake this time, burying a goal to make it 2-0 in the 49^th minute.
 
The Cardinals pulled one back in the 89^th minute as Burd lofted a throw in deep in the Wolves penalty box, the ball was headed on towards net where Chris Porte '25 made the final contact before the ball landed in the back of the net with 1:20 remaining.
 
Pressuring for an equalizer, the Cardinals were awarded a free kick from 40 yards out with 22 seconds left. Will Geballe '26 lofted a left-footed kick into the box where all nine Cardinals were positioned, but it was headed away by the Wolves. With players all out of position, WestConn tracked down the ball along the far side, sending Ian Mounts loose up the right wing. He lofted a pass towards Marc Kyriakidis who managed to get enough on it to score on the open net and make it 3-1 WestConn with four seconds left.
 
The goal for Porte is his first of the season and second of his career. Burd's assist is the first of his career.
 
Wesleyan looks to get back on the front foot this weekend with No. 22 Amherst coming to Jackson Field for a 2:30 PM kick off on Saturday. The Cardinals then head to Bates for a 3 PM start on Sunday.