BABSON PARK, MA. – For the first time since 2011, the Wesleyan men's soccer team will advance to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament after scoring two second half goals to knock the University of Saint Joseph from the tournament, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon from Hartwell-Rogers Field.
Advancing to the second round with their own shutout, Babson College turned out a 1-0 win over St. John Fisher. The Cardinals and the Beavers will square up for the second time this season on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. at Hartwell-Rogers Field.
It's been a while since the Cardinals (8-4-5 overall) made the advance to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, but the Cardinals are not ready to let this season go quite yet. Entering the second half after 45 minutes with no goals to speak of against the Bluejays (14-5-3 overall) it would only take another four minutes for the Cardinals to seal their fate.
Beginning the motion with a throw in from the far line,
Zach Feldman '27 sends a high ball into the top corner of the box where
John SennMcNally '28 was waiting to make the header attempt. SennMcNally's presence in the box was enough to draw Bluejays goalkeeper Will Slayton far enough out that he would now be able to stop the deflected header that landed at the feet of
Josh LaCorte '26 on the left post. Â
Regaining the zone in the 83
rd minute,
Joshwin Jennings '27 gave the Cardinals a two-goal lead off his left foot.
Lucas Ruehlemann '25 drove the ball down into the box as Jennings chased the long pass down before side stepping two defenders for a shot at the 10-yard mark.
Making two saves in goal,
Mathis Blanc '26 earns his eighth win and eighth shutout of the season. In the opposite goal, Slayton made four saves on six shots on goal.
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