LAURA SCHAFFER Jason Shuster ’99 helps get the Wesleyan offense in gear during Wednesday’s 2-0 home victory against the Clark Cougars.

Men's Soccer Finds Some Offense, Beats Clark 2-0 By Peter Keiper-White Staff Writer After a lackluster performance against WPI, it was evident that the men’s soccer team needed to improve its offensive game. The Cardinals showed noticeable improvement on both sides of the ball in an impressive 2-0 win over Clark. "We played much better all around, "coach Terry Jackson said. "We set up many offensive chances, clogged passing lanes and didn’t allow them many opportunities." The Cardinal offense created many chances but was unable to convert until the team scored a fluky goal as the first half was winding down.

Neaves George ’00 fired a shot from the top of the box that the Clark keeper stopped easily. But the Cougar goalie could not control the ball and Andy Fiore ’99 made a heads-up play to steal the ball. He sent it back to Jason Shuster ’99 at the top of the box. Shuster’s shot bounced through a maze of bodies to Peter Czerepak ’99 waiting on the right side of the penalty area. Czerepak had the whole right side of the net and nailed the shot to put Wesleyan up one.

Wesleyan keeper Mark Penrod ’01 had an easy day as Clark shot only eight times on net. Half of the shots came after the score was already 2-0.

The Wesleyan defense was also strong and aided by a Cougar offense that has not hit the back of the net in three games.

With time running out in the first half, Clark had their best chance to tie the game and build some momentum. An attacker snuck behind the Cardinal defense and appeared to have a clear one-on-one with Penrod. Then Avi Stopper ’01 came out of nowhere and, along with Penrod and the attacker, arrived in the middle of the box at the same time. The ball bounced away and Wesleyan held Clark scoreless.

"Our backs were really strong," midfielder Fiore said. "They moved the ball really well and Mark did a great job in goal."

The win was almost bittersweet for Wesleyan after a scary moment in the second half. The Cougars had the ball deep in the Cardinal end and were working it from left to right. Senior Captain Miriti Murungi attempted to get at the ball carrier but was tackled by another player before he could do anything. The referee did not stop the play initially and Murungi lay in pain for a full minute before Sean Wilkinson ’00 committed a foul to stop play. Murungi could not walk under his own power and had to be helped off the field.

It looked worse than it was, as Murungi only suffered a minor cramp. He will be ready go on Saturday. Murungi had been playing extremely well. He kept the Clark defense off balance all game and set up many of the Cardinals’ 23 shots.

The offense scored an insurance goal when Tim MacGregor ’02 and John Medwid ’00 caught the defense napping and converted a two-on-one with MacGregor banging home the rebound of Medwid’s shot.

The Cardinals begin a difficult stretch when they open their NESCAC schedule at Trinity Saturday. Four of their next five games are on the road, including contests against tough opponents like Middlebury and Trinity. Trinity, who is 3-1 on the season, dominated the Cardinals in a 3-1 win last season.

"This is where our season begins," Fiore said. "This is our first real challenge. Trinity is much better than Clark or WPI."

Junior midfielder Eric Steffen put the game and the team into perspective when he said, "We’re nasty and we’re pretty. That means we’re sexy. And sexy teams win."