MIDDLETOWN, CT. - Paying tribute to the Class of 2026, the Wesleyan men's soccer team fell in NESCAC action to Bowdoin College, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon at Jackson Field, ending a seven-game unbeaten streak.

Prior to the start of the match the Cardinals (8-3-2 overall, 5-1-2 NESCAC) honored goalkeepers Mathis Blanc and Josh Nadison, Josh LaCorte, Will Martin, Will Geballe, and Carrigan Cullinan as the Class of 2026.

Making quick work to get a goal on the board before the Cardinals, the Polar Bears (8-2-2 overall, 4-2-2 NESCAC) caught a break with just under 10 minutes of action underway at Jackson Field, though not of their own doing. The Bears' game-winning goal was an own goal by the Cardinals, knocked behind Blanc from the line.

The Bears held a marginal shot advantage over the Cardinals, keeping the shots on Blanc to a 6-1 differential with an 11-5 overall count.

Re-energized through the start of the second half, the Cardinals controlled the pace at a much more even level of play. In the 56^th minute, it was Blanc and Sam Wheeler '27 that came up with two gigantic saves on the Bears to keep the scoring advantage to just one with Blanc caught out high on the initial save.

Nearly tying the game with six seconds remaining. Jacob Schindler's shot on Alex Ainsworth hit the crossbar and the tips of Ainsworth's gloves.

Blanc finished the afternoon with six saves. Ainsworth earned the win with just one save.

The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, Oct. 25, when they head to Colby for a 2 p.m. kickoff.