Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Men's Soccer Set to Battle Intrastate Foe Wesleyan in NCAA Tournament First Round
Posted: Nov 15, 2024

Men's Soccer Set to Battle Intrastate Foe Wesleyan in NCAA Tournament First Round

BABSON PARK, Mass. — The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team, which captured its second Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship this past Saturday, is set to square off against intrastate foe Wesleyan University (Wesleyan) in the First Round of the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament at Hartwell-Rogers Field on the campus of Babson College in Babson Park, Mass. on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. The Blue Jays and 63 other teams saw their fate Monday afternoon during the NCAA Selection Show, and the time is now for the best D-III soccer teams in the country to go head-to-head with first-round matchups commencing on Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16. Here is everything fans need to know about both teams ahead of USJ's NCAA Tournament First Round game, as the Blue Jays look to become the first GNAC team to win a NCAA Tournament game since Saint Joseph's College of Maine in 2018.

Tickets are required for admittance to Saturday's contest between the Blue Jays and Cardinals. Tickets will be available at the gate and are $10 for general admission and free for children two or younger.
 
USJ BLUE JAYS (14-4-3, 10-1-3 GNAC) vs. WESLEYAN CARDINALS (7-4-5, 4-3-3 NESCAC) 
LOCATION: Hartwell-Rogers Field (Babson Park, Mass.)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Nov. 16 (1 p.m.)  
WATCH: Live Stream 
LIVE STATS: Live Stats 
TWITTER: @USJ_BlueJays | #FearTheFlock | #GoBlueJays | #D3soc
 
USJ QUICK HITS 

  • USJ earned its spot in the NCAA Tournament after winning the programs' second GNAC Title this past Saturday.
  • The Blue Jays, who enter with a 14-4-3 overall record, are making their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and first since 2022.
  • The Blue Jays' offense is led by team captain, graduate student Henry McGarrah V (Hartford, Conn.).
  • McGarrah V, who was named to the All-GNAC Second Team has been a force on the wings for USJ, leading the team in total points (33), goals scored (13) and assists (7).
  • Senior forward Dane Stephens (Linstead, Jamaica), an All-GNAC First Team selection, has also enjoyed a stellar year, ranking second on the team with 24 total points after tallying 10 goals and four assists.
  • Freshmen Mario Milardo (Middletown, Conn.) and Landon Coelho (Naugatuck, Conn.) have made an immediate impact in their debut campaigns, being named to the All-GNAC Second Team, and All-GNAC First Team, respectively.
  • Coelho has dished out five assists on the year and scored two goals, while Milardo has racked up 14 points from six goals and two assists.
  • Junior Nicholas Simpson (Mansfield, Conn.), an All-GNAC Second Team honoree, and freshman Jaiden Daigle (Rocky Hill, Conn.) have formed a formidable partnership on the backline, anchoring a defense that has kept eight shutouts on the season.
  • Freshman Will Slayton (Manchester, Conn.) leads the Blue Jays' goalkeeping core, boasting a team-best record of 11-1-3 and a team-high six shutouts. The freshman also has tallied 65 total saves, and has posted a .793 save percentage and a 1.03 goals against average

SCOUTING WESLEYAN

  • The Cardinals earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after finishing the year with a 7-4-5 overall record, and a 4-3-3 mark in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play.
  • Wesleyan earned the No. 5 seed in the NESCAC playoffs, falling to fourth-seeded Williams College in the Quarterfinals.
  • The Cardinals are making their sixth appearance all-time in the NCAA Tournament, and first since 2012.
  • Wesleyan are paced by All-NESCAC Second Team selection Chris Porte. Porte paces the team with eight points off three goals and two assists.
  • Zach Feldman and Dylan Clack, who were both named to the All-NESCAC Third Team, anchor a Cardinals defense that has kept seven shutouts on the year.
  • Mathis Blanc has played every minute in goal for Wesleyan, boasting a .791 save percentage, a 0.87 GAA and 53 total saves.

INSIDE THE SERIES 

  • Saturday marks the first time that the Blue Jays and Cardinals will meet on the pitch.
  • USJ is perfect against schools from the NESCAC, defeating local foes Trinity College in 2021.
  • Wesleyan are also undefeated against GNAC programs, boasting a 4-0-0 record. The Cardinals have defeated Albertus Magnus three times, and Saint Joseph's College of Maine once.

UP NEXT 

With a victory, the Blue Jays would advance to the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament for the first time in program history. USJ would play the winner of the Babson versus St. John Fisher matchup on Sunday, November 17. Kickoff at Hartwell-Rogers Field in Babson Park, Mass., would be slated for 1:00 p.m.

FOLLOW
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph Athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays