The Washington University men’s soccer team (2-0-2) continued their dramatic season with three close games in under a week.
The Bears have won two games, including last night’s 2-1 victory over Webster University, and battled to a double overtime draw since Sept. 5.

Thursday night’s battle with the Gorloks looked to be another draw. Wash. U. struck first as senior tri-captain John Hengel scored an unassisted goal in the 16th minute after taking possession on a steal. “We had high pressure and the pass was a little off to their outside back,” Hengel said. “I just came in and stole it and had the whole half open to run.”

But the Gorloks fought back. After a foul by Wash. U. in the 71st minute, Webster’s Brian Enger was able to capitalize on a free kick to tie the game at 1-1. Threatened with their third tie in four games, the Bears got the go-ahead score with less than five minutes remaining. “We already had two ties this year and we didn’t want to have a third,” Hengel said.

Freshman Brian Wright gained possession of the ball, sending it to Hengel, who connected with sophomore Michael Chamberlin inside the box. The head-in past Webster’s Pete Moth was the first goal of Chamberlin’s career. “Johnny [Hengel] had a great cross and I just wanted to get it and try and get it back across,” Chamberlin said. “I got lucky that it went in.”

Wash. U. 2, Rose-Hulman 0

In its first game of the Denison Invitational tournament, the Bears faced Rose-Hulman. A foul in the 30^th minute set up a penalty kick for senior tri-captain Nat Zenner; he converted, giving Wash. U. an early 1-0 lead.

After adjusting to Rose-Hulman’s strengths, including the challenge from 6’8” forward Clint Vatterrodt, the Bears picked up their intensity in the second half. According to head coach Joe Clarke, the team strategized to counter with sharper play.

“We were adjusting,” Clarke said. “Pass the ball faster, move the ball faster, play more soccer; that was our strategy and that was what we did – play with more confidence.”

Wash. U. outshot the Fighting Engineers 12-8 for the game with the adjustments.

“We were very successful in the second half at creating space for ourselves which made it very easy for us to keep the ball,” junior midfielder Cody Costakis said. “For that reason we were able to pressure them almost the entire half and keep the ball on their side of the field.”

The team added to its lead with an unassisted goal from Costakis inside the first two minutes of the second half. Costakis capitalized on a free kick from 20 yards out to put the Bears up 2-0.

Wash. U. 1, Denison University 1 (2OT)

In Sunday’s game, the Bears faced a more challenging Denison squad. The Big Red had greater endurance and allowed less offensive leeway.

“Denison was definitely the tougher opponent; they ran the entire game,” Costakis said.

“They were in shape and they were effective at being physical. They didn’t give us the space we were able to find with Rose-Hulman so we couldn’t dominate the game with possession.”

Wash. U. started the game’s scoring early with another goal from Zenner. A corner kick from Costakis was placed near the box allowing Zenner to head the ball past Denison’s Kevin Donahue.

“It was just a corner kick and we got really good service from Cody…Nat and John Hengel were the two targets he was trying to hit…Cody hit a beautiful ball for Nat and Nat finished the pass very well,” Clarke said.

The two teams played for another 80 minutes before Denison’s forward Lenny Mills netted the first goal against Bears’ goalie John Smelcer for the year. After the end of regulation, the teams went on to play two scoreless overtime periods. Despite the tied result, the team noticed improved motion on the field.

“We’ve been working on keeping the team connected and compared to the game against Illinois Wesleyan,” Costakis said. “We definitely improved a bit on staying together as a unit and sliding together.”

Clarke explained that despite the differences between the two opponents, approaches in game strategy are similar. The team focuses on particular skills it hopes to improve and then makes in-game adjustments when needed. “When we play we basically work on the things that we’re trying to do,” Clarke said. “In the game we try to make adjustments but we’re mainly focused on what we do.

The Bears face Rhodes College at Francis Field at noon on Sunday.”We took a step forward,” Chamberlin said. “[We are] starting to play more as a single group…play as one team.”