Box Score MIDDLETOWN, Conn.--Freshman Maurice Young scored the only goal of the game in the 57th minute, and sophomore keeper Kevin Strobel had a career-high 11 saves, as visiting Western New England hung on for a 1-0 non-conference men's soccer victory over regional rival Wesleyan on Wednesday. The Golden Bears improve to 6-3-1 on the season while the Cardinals--who were receiving votes in this week's NSCAA New England regional rankings--drop to 3-2-2.

"These are the types of games we live for: playing on the road against a top-quality opponent and working our hearts out for a result," Western New England coach Erin Sullivan said after the match. "It's the beauty of this game...it's 'on the day.' Our players are to be commended for a fantastic and total team effort."

Western New England had played five consecutive overtime games (3-1-1 record during that stretch) before this afternoon, and appeared to be headed for another before sophomore Scott Trautwein fed a chip pass to Young who deposited his second goal of the season inside the left post. Freshman Jordan Martins was credited with a secondary assist as he sent a long pass from midfield to Trautwein.

That tally stood up and so did a Golden Bears defense against a Wesleyan team that had several dangerous chances in the closing minutes. Wesleyan generated an overwhelming 24-7 edge in total shots, but Strobel made several tough saves from close range. One other save came from the defense late in the second half after a ball off the foot of Cardinal junior Hans Erickson was headed for the open left side of the net but was cleared out of harm's way at the goal line by a junior co-captain Colin Macdonald. Wesleyan had numerous opportunities around the box throughout the contest but had at least six good chances blocked by Macdonald's fellow defensive starters senior co-captain Chris Bruton, sophomore Neil Williams, and freshman Matthew Chmura--plus a strong performance from sophomore Brandon Bolger--along with the 12 saves.

"Our back four and goalkeeper grinded through some very heavy pressure, showed the will to bend but never break, and rose to the occasion time and again," added Sullivan.

At the other end, WNE put three shots on the Cardinal net as senior netminder Emmett McConnell had two stops.

Today's final result is typical in an all-time series marked by tight contests. Playing for the 10th time over the last nine years, Wesleyan and WNE are now tied in head-to-head meetings at 4-4-2. Of the eight games won by one of the teams, seven have been one-goal games with the last three all decided, 1-0. WNE took last year's meeting in Springfield while Wesleyan captured the victory in 2012 in Middletown.

Western New England's next game will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday when it entertains Commonwealth Coast Conference leader Gordon at Suprenant Field. Ahead for Wesleyan is a home conference tilt against Hamilton, also on Saturday.

(Editor's note: Wesleyan Athletics contributed to this game recap.)