MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's soccer program sent out its six seniors with a 3-2 comeback victory over Beloit in Saturday's Midwest Conference regular-season finale.
Coach
Nate Grosse's Rams secured a winning campaign at 8-6-3 overall. They placed fifth in the MWC race at 3-3-2, two points shy of a postseason berth.
A successful senior class of
Drew Bruck,
Nolan Zeger,
Andrew Lopez,
Galen Westervelt,
Zach Miller and
Blake Soto – all of whom started Saturday – directed the Rams to 23 wins since 2021, the most over a two-year period in program history. The group won a school-record 15 matches last season.
The Rams needed a second-half rally to push past Beloit (3-8-4 overall, 2-2-4 MWC), which took a 2-1 lead at the 51-minute mark.
MWC scoring leader
George Archer delivered the equalizer with his fifth penalty kick goal of the season, tying the match at 2-2 in the 71st minute. He also scored early in the match and finished with 31 points and 12 goals for the season.
With the outcome in the balance, Cornell provided the winning goal with 10 minutes remaining in regulation. Freshman Brenton DuBoise booted a long pass downfield to sophomore Aidan Lerch, who beat Beloit's goalkeeper to the ball and tapped in for the decisive score.
It was Lerch's fifth goal of the season, and team-high third game-winner.
Cornell keeper
Will Bickel helped preserve the lead down the stretch, earning his seventh win of the season. He notched two saves over 90 minutes.
Archer and
Cian McNamara each had five shots to lead Cornell's attack. The Rams held an 18-16 edge in total attempts.