Five senior members of the Wabash soccer team --- Tim Cheek, Jon Funston, Drew Kapsalis, Christian Krenk, and David Rosborough --- were recognized for their contributions prior to Saturday's home regular season finale against nationally-ranked Ohio Wesleyan. The Little Giants lost 4-0.
Wabash faced the Battling Bishops, ranked number two in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll and number one by D3soccer.com. OWU scored a goal in the 10th minute, adding two more first half goals before Wabash settled into to hold the Bishops scoreless for more than 60 minutes. OWU added a late goal in the closing minutes.
The Little Giants remain in the hunt for one of four spots in the upcoming North Coast Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament. Wabash has not earned a spot in the tournament since joining the league in 1999. The Little Giants can finish no worse than fourth in the final regular standings with road wins in the upcoming week at Earlham and Oberlin.
"When you play a team like Ohio Wesleyan that is both nationally ranked and undefeated, you expect them to create three or four chances to score," head coach Roberto Giannini said. "What you don't expect and definitely don't want is to serve these changes to them in a silver platter. Out of the four goals they scores, three were avoidable mistakes in our part.
"Make no mistake about it, OWU is a good team and a great soccer program, but we can't expect to make them even better with our poor game plan execution. In the second half we stepped up to make it a more even match. We played a much better half and showed that we are good enough to compete with best teams in the nation, no matter what the score board showed."
Sophomore Dylan Andrew fired two shots on goal for the Little Giants, but could not find the back of the net. Austin Jennings and Ryan Fier also had shots for Wabash in the match.
The Little Giants will head to Earlham Wednesday afternoon before closing out the regular season Saturday at Oberlin.
"I am confident that we are going to play our two next away NCAC games of the regular season with the determination, knowledge, and assertiveness that we can go to the conference tournament. It's the pledge and oath we made to each other at the end of today's game. This year is the year and we all know it."
Photos - (top left) Senior Jon Funston works the ball upfield in Saturday's match against Ohio Wesleyan.
(Bottom right) Seniors (l-r) David Rosborough, Drew Kapsalis, Christian Krenk, and Tim Cheek prior to the start of Saturday's match.