Wesley Falls to Catholic in ECACs

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Wesley College men's soccer team's 2008 season came to a close with a 3-1 loss at Catholic in the quarterfinals of the ECAC South Championship.

Michael Dimarco scored for the Cardinals at 6:45 to give Catholic the lead. 

Later in the first half, Catholic (13-6) got a pair of goals from Brian Pappas to give the Cardinals some breathing room.  His goal in the 33rd minute was assisted by Kyle Bakas and a Nick Sylvester free kick set up a header by Pappas in the 45th minute.

Wesley (11-8-3) tried to get back in the game in the second half.  Saidu Fofanah (Yeardon, Pa./Pennwood) scored from 20 yards out at 57:04 to cut it to 3-1. 

In the 61st minute, the Wolverines nearly scored again, but a Mike Thomas (Frederick, Md./Governor Thomas Johnson) shot was blocked by a Catholic defender after getting past goalkeeper Quinn Daly.

"We got off to a slow start," observed Wesley Head Coach Steve Clark.  "It's something that's cost us on several occasions this year and we're going to work on it.  But that doesn't take away how proud we are of this team for what they accomplished.  Especially with how young the team is to have accomplished some of the things we did this year was great."

Daly made four saves in the win for Catholic.

Nick Talarico (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./Pinelands) started and played the first half for Wesley, making three saves.  Tom Mikulski (Nutley, N.J./Nutley) entered the game in goal at the half and stopped four shots over the final 45 minutes.

With 11 wins in 2008, it marked the sixth time in the last seven seasons the team reached double figures.  The Wolverines also advanced on penalty kicks past No. 2 York in the CAC semifinals to the CAC Championship Game.  Coach Clark ended the season with 199 victories, leaving him one short of the 200 win plateau.