Wabash soccer is gearing up for a showdown against conference rival DePauw University next Wednesday, October 9. With NCAC tournament implications, this matchup is key for both teams as they fight for positioning in the conference standings. The Little Giants seek to open conference play with a crucial victory on the road against their long-time rivals.
The rivalry between Wabash (7-2-1) and DePauw (6-2-2) soccer has been a challenging one, with Wabash holding a 17-39-5 overall record and an 8-20-2 mark on the road. However, momentum has shifted in favor of the Little Giants in recent history, as they’ve gone 5-3-2 in the last 10 meetings.
In their last matchup on October 4, 2023, Wabash saw a 2-0 lead slip away, finishing in a 3-3 tie at home.
“It was a tie that felt like a loss,” said goalkeeper Fernando Ramos ’25. “We essentially thought we had it in the bag, but I think that draw really set the tone for the rest of conference play last year.”
Wabash has all eyes set on DePauw this time around, as the team had no games since September 28. In contrast, DePauw will have played two matches on October 1 and October 5, potentially leaving them more fatigued and giving Wabash a fresher squad with the extra rest.
“I think this week will give us an advantage to mentally prepare for DePauw,” said Ramos. “It’ll allow us to reflect on our wrongs, deeply scout in practice and have the rest we need.”
Heading into the matchup, both teams showcase strong offensive threats, with Wabash’s midfielder Alfredo Campos ’27 leading the team with six goals and DePauw sophomore Braden Murphey close behind with five. One compelling stat is that both Wabash and DePauw are averaging 2.20 points per game on the dot. However, Wabash holds a defensive advantage as goalkeeper Ramos has recorded 26 saves, while DePauw’s goalkeepers have combined for 18 saves this season.
Another interesting aspect of DePauw’s team is that out of the 11 players who’ve played the most minutes this season, nine of them are freshmen and sophomores. With a younger group, the Tigers present a different style of play that the Little Giants don’t often see.
“They play very direct soccer, looking to hit diagonal balls and serve about 50 balls in the box a game,” said Head Soccer Coach Chris Keller. “It’s not the nicest looking soccer, but it’s effective.”
While Coach Keller understands the youthful energy DePauw presents, he believes in his players to offset and challenge DePauw’s unique scheme.
“We have really good technical ability and some guys that can create and keep the ball,” said Keller. “The more we keep the ball, the less likely they’re able to hit those big crossovers and try to win the second ball, which is what they’re really focused on.”
Although this is a big rivalry that will set the tone for the rest of conference play, the team knows they must approach this matchup like any other game to be successful.
“We know that whatever the result may be, it can directly influence how the postseason will look like,” said Ramos. “We’ve been having this mentality of taking it one game at a time and getting the job done.”
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