Two first-half goals lead Wabash to a 2-0 soccer victory over Hiram College at Fischer Field Saturday afternoon. The win maintained the Little Giants' position in the top-four places in the latest North Coast Athletic Conference standings.
 
Jacques Boulais put Wabash (8-4-2, 3-1-1) on the scoreboard with his third goal of the season in the sixth minute off a pass by Aleixiz Arellano. The Little Giants added an insurance goal near the end of the first half when Rodrigo Porras launched a pass from midfield across the pitch to a waiting David Riggs. The freshman easily beat the stunned Hiram (5-6-2, 2-3-0 NCAC) defense to score his second goal this year.
 
That was all senior goalkeeper Dayton Jennings needed. The Little Giants kept pressure off Jennings for most of the match, allowing just nine total shots by the Terriers and only three on goal. Jennings collected his fourth complete-game shutout of the season to bring his career record to 23.
 
"We created chances and got in behind their defense and executed the game plan we talked about to put in two goals in the first half," Wabash head coach Chris Keller said. "That was great for our confidence. We were able to manage the 2-0 lead, which can be tricky.
 
"Our back line defense is playing well. We were missing Geno James to an injury today, but Riley Pelton stepped back there and helped with Christian Stiverson, Porras, Spase Dorsuleski, and Jennings again. They had another great outing. I also thought our midfielders well to counteract what Hiram tried as an attacking, possession-oriented team."
 
Wabash picked up three points in the conference standings with the victory, giving the Little Giants 10 total for the season. The Little Giants sit a point ahead of Kenyon College (9) after the Lords' 1-0 win over Denison on Saturday. Oberlin (9 points) and Ohio Wesleyan (8 points) both play later Saturday night. The top-four teams in the final NCAC regular season standings earn berths to the conference tournament.
 
The Little Giants make their final two road trips of the regular season in the upcoming week, starting with a match at 7 p.m. at Wittenberg on Wednesday. Wabash heads to Wooster Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. contest.