After a historically successful start, Illinois Wesleyan men’s soccer team dropped three matches to end regular season play.
The Titans started their year 6-0-1, the best start in program history.
They continued their run, going 9-1-3 before facing the North Central College Cardinals on Wednesday, Oct. 23, where their season would quickly derail.
The game was a stalemate through the first half with a score of 0-0.
The Titans played fast and smart with junior goalkeeper Sam Kedzior making incredible saves for his team despite the frigid weather.
With thirty minutes left on the clock, the Cardinals made their first goal, but that did not stop the Titans.
Motivated by their teammates on the sideline and a small but mighty group of student supporters in the stands, the Titans were determined not to go down without a fight.
Eventually, with about six minutes left on the clock, junior Logan Tierney managed to score a goal.
Everyone in the bleachers came alive seeing the tied score on the board.
But even though the Titans succeeded in the daunting task of tying the game, they then had to either score another goal in six minutes, or go into overtime.
Unfortunately, with less than a minute left on the clock, captain Will McNulty made an accidental goal on his own team via a header.
The Cardinals won, 2-1.
The game began of a grueling losing streak for the Titans.
Three days after what could only be described as a heartbreaking loss to the Cardinals, IWU lost a second game, on Senior Day, no less, against Carroll.
The Titans were again tied at 0s going into the half before allowing three goals in 16 minutes. The Titans lost 3-0.
Finally, on Oct. 30, the Titans faced Millikin for their regular season closing match.
After the Titans entered the second half up 1-0, Millikin came back and then won on a last minute goal against the Titans, 3-2.
The Titans drop to 9-4-3 overall, and are 3-4-1 in the CCIW.
With many senior players graduating next year, it’s hard to envision what will be in store next season for the Titans.