FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Monday, Nov. 13, 2006)

 

WESLEYAN MEN'S SOCCER PLAYS IN SECOND STRAIGHT NCAA TOURNAMENT
(Cardinals Qualify At-Large, Defeat Baruch in 1st Round, Fall to Montclair St. in 2nd Round)

 

         Completing the regular season with a 10-1-3 record, the Wesleyan men's soccer team was surprised by Bates College in the first round of the NESCAC tournament, 1-0 in double overtime, preventing the Cardinals from defending their NESCAC tournament title and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament once again.
        But on the strength of their accomplishment during the year, including a 6-1-2 conference mark and a national ranking as high as seven during the season and 23 at the start of the NCAA tournament, the Cardinals earned one of 17 at-large bids to the national field.  Wesleyan produced a team-record 12-game unbeaten streak to open the year (9-0-3) and had five regular-season contests vs. NCAA qualifiers, going 2-1-2 with wins over Middlebury and W.N.E.C., ties vs. Wheaton (Mass.) and Amherst, and an overtime loss at Williams.
        Wesleyan got the chance to host its first-ever NCAA tournament game with a first-round home game vs. CUNYAC champion Baruch (12-6-1) Wed., Nov. 8.  Wesleyan responded with a 5-0 victory, scoring all five goals in the second half on a muddy field.  Five different players scored for the Cardinals.
        Wesleyan moved on to the second round at Montclair St. (19-1), the NJAC tournament winner, Sat., Nov. 11.  Montclair struck for a goal in the 18th minute and made it stand up despite a 7-2 edge in shots by Wesleyan over the final 45 minutes.  Montclair was ousted from the tournament in its next game vs. Dominican (Ill.) (19-1-1) on penalty kicks.
       Wesleyan closed out the season with a final record of 11-3-3.

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