TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Despite a furious rally, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology men's soccer team was unable to connect for a second-half score as visiting Illinois Wesleyan handed the Engineers a 2-1 setback Wednesday at the Intramural Field.
The Fightin' Engineers (3-3-2, 0-0 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference) struck first in the nonconference contest, as Drew Belk (Jasper, Ind./Jasper) recorded his first goal of the season on an assist from freshman Alex Jansen (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg).
Jansen sent the ball from the left side to Belk, who finished it just in front of the goal in the match's 8th minute.
Illinois Wesleyan (6-3-1) didn't waste any time in its response, as Adam Flaugher found teammate Drake Leary on a cross to the middle in the 13th minute. Leary put the ball high past Rose-Hulman keeper Drew Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio/Bishop Fenwick) to knot the score at 1-all.
The Titans would go on to take a 2-1 lead just before halftime when Jared Krebs' free kick just outside the box found Mitch Billimack, who headed the ball past Miller in the 43rd minute.
Both teams would battle in the second frame with the Engineers holding the advantage on corner kicks, 5-2. Rose-Hulman held the edge for the match, 10-7, while both teams finished with 15 shots each.
Miller recorded a match-high seven saves for the contest, while IWU keeper Andrew Reed had six.
RHIT's Brad Rostron (Westlake, Texas/Southlake Carroll) led the Engineers in shots with five, two of them on goal.
Rose-Hulman returns to play when it hits the road Saturday for a nonconference match at North Park in Chicago, Ill. Match time is set for 7 p.m. CT, which follows the women's game, set for 5 p.m. CT.
