MIDDLETOWN, CT. – After pulling out all of the stops in a showstopping, come-from-behind victory over Amherst College in the conference quarterfinals, the #2 Wesleyan men's soccer team will face #5 Conn. College in the NESCAC Championship semifinal on Nov. 8 at 1 p.m., hosted by Tufts University, as they reach the second round for the first time since 2015. #1 Tufts will take on #6 Middlebury College prior to the match at 10:30 a.m.

Making a ninth overall appearance in the NESCAC semifinal, the Cardinals did so by way of a buzzer-beater goal with 14 seconds remaining in regulation, defeating the #7 Mammoths 3-2 in the highest scoring game of the quarterfinal round. The team's leading scorers all recorded a goal.

Ousting the reigning NCAA National Champions was no small feat. The Mammoths were hot from the opening kickoff, pinning the Cardinals down low, but it was Yousuf Saeed '27 that put the Cardinals on the board first. Saeed caught a pass from Ford Cash '29 out left and tucked it over the line. However, with a minute remaining in the first half, Vincent Akambo tied the game for the Mammoths and would give Amherst the lead with a second-half goal.

Now down 2-1 with 10 minutes to run in regulation, Joshwin Jennings '27 tied the match at two, firing a shot from the top of the box. The game looked like it was headed to overtime, but with 14 seconds on the clock, Aiden Londergan '27 connected on a rebounded save, lifting the Cardinals to the semifinals.

Ranked 11^th in the nation, the Cardinals are 9-3-4 overall as they search for a second NESCAC title. The Cardinals, driven by a strapping and reliable back line, have been highlighted this season by the emergence of Londergan from the midfield. Londergan ranks Top 5 in the NESCAC in goals (7), points (17), and game-winning goals (3) as the Cardinals' leading scorer. Saeed and Jennings follow Londergan in scoring with five and four goals respectively, Jennings leading all Cardinals with four assists. Jennings was named the NESCAC Player of the Week on Nov. 3.

In goal, senior Mathis Blanc '26 holds a standing 8-3-3 record, marking 61 saves and 13 goals against with an .824 save percentage. Averaging four saves per game, he ranks second in the conference.

#5 Conn. College
Following a 2-1 quarterfinal upset of #4 Williams, the Camels sit 9-2-5 overall and seventh in the United Soccer Coaches poll. With a 4-2-4 NESCAC record, the Camels picked up the #5 seed and entered the tournament as the defending champions. The Camels were also national finalists, falling to Amherst in the title match.

The Ephs initially lead the game, but Max Haberman tied the match at one before Gavin Vanden Berg struck 11 minutes into the second half with the game winner. TJ Krongard finished with seven saves in goal. Krongard holds a .763 save percentage with an 8-2-5 record, making 39 total saves.

The Cardinals and the Camels met Oct. 29 in the regular season finale, ending the match in a 1-1 draw. Jennings scored the game-tying goal on a penalty kick, collecting a much-needed point to clinch the #2 seed. While the Cardinals outshot the Camels, the Camels held steady pacing and the game was scoreless heading into the second half. Elliot Spatz scored the opening goal for the Camels.

#1 Tufts University
The top-ranked Jumbos mark a 12-1-3 overall record, securing the #1 seed in the NESCAC with a 6-1-3 campaign. The lone loss this season came Sept. 6, to the then 10^th ranked Ephs.

Facing #8 Bates in the quarterfinal, the Jumbos narrowly escaped with the 1-0 shutout after the match ran 75 minutes without a tally. Awarded a penalty kick after the Bobcats were called for a handball inside the box, the Jumbos delivered and advanced to the semifinal. Daniel Yanez scored on the play and has recorded four goals on four attempts in penalty kicks this season. Henry Brown leads all Jumbos in scoring with five goals.

The Cardinals met the Jumbos on Sept. 27 on the road and were forced to play defense for most of the game, a specialty of the Cardinals. The backline allowed just two shots on Blanc through 90 minutes, one of which was Brown's opening goal. In the 73^rd minute, Jennings issued a throw in and made contact with Sam Wheeler at the line to tie the match.

Tufts defeated Middlebury in the regular season with a 2-0 shutout.

#6 Middlebury College
Upsetting #3 Bowdoin College last weekend, the No. 14 Panthers currently stand at 9-4-2 overall and ran 4-4-2 in the NESCAC.

The Panthers secured a 2-1 victory over the Polar Bears to advance despite the Bears leading 1-0 for much of the match. Following 53 minutes at a goal disadvantage, the Panthers scored two unanswered goals and walked away with the victory to advance. Will Sawin and Colin Dugan are credited with the goals. Sawin leads all Panthers with seven goals.

The Cardinals picked up a 1-0 win over the Panthers on Sept. 28. Ranked seventh overall that week, the regular season victory was the catalyst to Londergan's scoring tear in what was a massive NESCAC upset at the time. The Panthers held the offensive edge in the first half but Blanc held up on all early advances made. With three minutes underway in the second, Londergan scored the game-winning goal on a rebounded save.