Finally.
After one shot against DePauw on Friday and a second against Holy Cross College on Sunday connected with the posts around the goal but failed to go into the net, the Wabash soccer team finally caught a break. Freshmen Andre Hall and Mark Babcock scored second half goals to lead the Little Giants to a 2-0 victory over the Saints at Mud Hollow Field on Sunday afternoon. (View photos from Sunday's match.)
Senior forward Gary Simkus pounded a ball toward the net in the 70th minute that hit the crossbar. The rebound came off to Hall on the right side, who fired another shot immediately toward the goal. Once again the ball nicked the crossbar, but this time the bounces went Wabash's way. The ball ricocheted off the ground and into the back of the goal, putting the Little Giants up 1-0.
Two minutes later Wabash would need no fortunate bounce, only a good pass. Sophomore David Rosborough launched a cross from the left side and found Babcock waiting for the ball. A header by the freshman sailed past Saints goaltender Stegan DeLorenzo for the second goal of the match.
"In our last three games, including our scrimmage, we've hit the crossbar five times," head coach Roberto Giannini said. "We've worked hard as a team to create some scoring opportunities, but we haven't finished. Today we put seven shots on net that didn't score. We have to find a way to take advantage of scoring chances that come our way."
Two of those seven shots on goal took outstanding saves by DeLorenzo to keep the ball out of the net. Andrew Kapsalis fired a point-blank shot that only a sliding save by the Saints' goaltender kept from becoming the first goal of the game. Shortly after Hall had scored his goal in the second period, the freshman launched a shot from 35 meters out that DeLorenzo punched aside before the ball could curve into the goal.
Wabash goaltender Jon Miller turned aside three Holy Cross shots on goal while earning his first victory of the season.
"I wanted to see how we came back after Friday's loss against DePauw and see if we could remain focused," Giannini said. "I wanted to see if we could play as strong and with as much enthusiasm against a younger team like Holy Cross as we did against DePauw on Friday.
"We've shown we can carry that emotion over a two-day period. Now we have to keep it going this week."
The Little Giants (1-1) continue their homestand this week with a 5 p.m. Wednesday match against Rose-Hulman.
Photos
Top left - Freshman Andre Hall slides after a loose ball in the first half of Sunday's match against Holy Cross College. Hall scored the first goal of the season and the first of his collegiate career to help Wabash to a 2-0 victory.
Bottom right - Mark Babcock battles a Saints' player for the ball. Babcock added a second goal on a header off the pass from teammate David Rosborough to secure the victory for the Little Giants.