NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The 25th ranked nationally Coast Guard Academy Men's Soccer team rebounded nicely Tuesday evening, albeit amidst inclement weather conditions. They topped the Cardinals from Wesleyan University 2-0 in a non-conference match-up to notch their seventh victory of the season. 

Rain was beating down and winds were blowing off the Thames River, as Coast Guard and Wesleyan played to a 0-0 draw after the first forty-five minutes of gameplay. 

As play resumed, the defensive chess match continued to unfold. With shot attempts coming at a premium, Coast Guard made the most of their opportunities scoring twice on only three shot attempts in the second half. 

With game flow being more conservative, it is only fitting that a defenseman scored the first goal of the game. Senior George Ackling scored in the 64th minute off a feed from John DiTommaso for his first goal of the season. That goal would prove to be enough in this one, but the Bears were not done just yet. 

Just five minutes later, DiTommaso once again set up a teammate for their first score of the year when junior Andrew Ferderer buried the ball in the back of the net just outside the reach of the Wesleyan goalkeeper. 

While their offense did their job tonight, a nod needs to be given to the Bears' defensive front. They remain lock-and-step this season, limiting the number of shots on goals Josh Hudson needed to handle. The play of the Coast Guard defensemen ensures that the Bears will be in every game they play this season. 

Head Coach Chris Parsons was thrilled with his team's resolve this evening, commenting: 

"Tonight was a great bounce-back win against a quality opponent! The guys battled the opposition AND the elements!"

With the win, Coast Guard improves to 7-1-1 on the year, while Wesleyan drops to 6-2-1 with the loss. 

The Bears' next test will come on the road this Saturday, October 8th, 2022 at 1 PM EST when they take on New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opponent, Babson College.