MIDDLETOWN, CT. – Battling the elements in a gritty performance in front of a home crowd, the Wesleyan men’s soccer team was knocked from the Second Round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament by Rowan University, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon closing the 2025 season at Jackon Field with a 10-win finish.
The Cardinals concluded the season with a 10-5-4 overall record, recording the program’s 11th 10-win season. Running a 5-1-4 campaign in the NESCAC, the Cardinals clinched the #2 seed entered post-season conference play. With victories over ranked Amherst and Williams, the Cardinals won their first outright Little Three Championship title in over a decade.
Jackson Field had the feel of a mid-November afternoon in Connecticut, high winds, cold temperatures, and spots of rain leaving much to be desired following the sunny 8-1 win from the day prior. The No. 11 Cardinals played host to the Profs and found themselves far more evenly matched. With a stalemate brewing through the first half, the Cardinals held the attacking edge, creating more and better scoring opportunities. Despite the Cardinals’ advances and Zach Feldman’s ’27 high shot off the crossbar, the Profs struck first, scoring with two minutes to the half.
Clearing the zone, the Profs sent a through pass to the top of the box, the ball rolling inside from a header rebound. John SennMcNally ’28 headed the ball back to goalkeeper Mathis Blanc ’26 to settle possession, but the ball slipped to the grass. Carill Asanji capitalized on the opportunity presented at the post.
The Profs entered the half with the lead and opened the second half with a second goal. The Cardinals held Profs leading scorer Johnny Troiano for 46 minutes. Troiano, a two-time conference player of the year, scored his 19th goal of the season from out above the penalty arc on a rifled shot to the left corner. Four of the five second half shots for the Profs followed but the Cardinals continued to maintain control of the pace. With just under 20 remaining on the clock, Blanc came up with a massive sliding save at the far edge of the box as the Profs tried to go one-on-one.
Yousuf Saeed ’27 and Joshwin Jennings ’27 were the driving force of the Cardinals attack, Saeed leading with three shots on goal of five total. Saeed finishes the season second in scoring with six goals, Jennings with five goals and a team leading six assists. Aiden Londergan ’27 led all scoring with eight goals.
In goal, Blanc finished the game with two saves. Blanc closes his senior season with a career-best 9-5-3 record, shutting out four teams while making 63 saves. All time, Blanc is 23-12-10, recording 157 career saves in 50 games.
Head coach Geoff Wheeler concludes his 27th season with a 211-155-56 standing record, leading his staff to a NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year honor.
