Men's Soccer | Sports
WashU men’s soccer plays to back-to-back draws against Carnegie Mellon and Case Western Reserve
The WashU men’s soccer team showed grit and resilience over the weekend, securing a pair of tough draws against Carnegie Mellon University and Case Western Reserve University. In a 0-0 stalemate on Friday night, the Bears leaned on their defense to hold firm, while Sunday’s Senior Day matchup ended in a 1-1 tie after a late rally from Case Western. Though the Bears were frustrated not to come away with a win, the weekend showcased their steady progress as they prepare for the final stretch of University Athletic Association (UAA) play.
Friday’s match against Carnegie Mellon was a tense, defensive contest with few clear chances in the first half. The Tartans disrupted WashU’s rhythm early, particularly on set pieces, forcing the Bears to battle for control.
“Carnegie did an excellent job of really neutralizing some of the things that we wanted to do,” head coach Andrew Bordelon said. “They were really, really challenging us on set pieces.”
In the second half, WashU found their footing and spent more time in Carnegie’s half, finishing with a 16-6 edge in shots. They pushed hard for the winner in the final minutes, but the Tartans’ goalkeeper made several key saves to preserve the 0-0 result. On the defensive end, WashU goalkeeper Cal L’Hommedieu provided stability, recording his second consecutive clean sheet since returning from injury.
“You can see he’s been sharp in training, and his confidence is high,” Bordelon said. “I really like his communication and soccer IQ back there, and he came up big for us with a good save tonight.”
Sunday’s Senior Day game brought more emotion and energy as the Bears honored their seniors before kickoff. Despite a relatively mundane first half, the game sprang to life in the second half, and after more than 70 minutes of pressing, WashU finally got their reward. In the 78th minute, junior Nathan Szpak surged down the right wing, slipping past his defender and whipping a pinpoint cross into the box. Senior Landon Green timed his run perfectly, meeting the cross in stride and slotting it past the keeper to send the home crowd into a frenzy. It was a storybook moment — on Senior Day, it was fitting that Green, one of the team’s leaders, would put his side in front.
The Bears seemed poised to hold on for the victory, but just as WashU was tightening their grip on the game, Case Western found a way back. In the 87th minute, a misplayed pass deep in WashU’s territory gave the Spartans an opening, and they capitalized to level the score at 1-1. Though the late equalizer stung, the Bears refused to let the setback define their performance. They dug in for the remaining minutes, determined to keep the result from slipping away altogether.
Bordelon acknowledged the progress his team showed despite the disappointing result. “Ultimately, if we can create better opportunities in those final moments, I think we’re really a very dangerous and very good team,” he said.
While two draws may not have been the perfect ending to their home campaign, the Bears left the weekend with valuable lessons. Their defensive foundation, bolstered by L’Hommedieu’s steady play, gives them the confidence they need as they head into the season’s final games. And with sharper execution in the final third, they believe they have what it takes to finish their UAA schedule on a high.
With two games remaining in their season, the Bears sit in fifth place with a 1-2-2 conference record. They also wrapped up their home campaign without losing a single home game, recording six wins, two draws, and zero losses in eight home matches. The Bears will now focus on two crucial road games, starting with a visit to Rochester on Nov. 3.