Wabash College ground out a much-needed win at Fischer Field Saturday with a 2-0 win over Fontbonne. Sophomore Nikola Kajmakoski and junior Max Rowley tallied goals for the Little Giants.
 
It didn't take long for Wabash (3-3-1) to strike first in the warm late afternoon match. Kajmakoski took advantage of a beautiful throw-in by senior Riley Pelton and drove the ball into the back of the net. The first half remained a back-and-forth battle of physical play.
 
Head Coach Chris Keller commented on the physical play of both Fontbonne and Wabash, "Fontbonne was an organized team who's work rate was really high and sometimes got a little too excited to win the ball. But it is truly nothing we won't see in conference play."
 
Overall, five yellow cards were handed out in the slugfest. One given to a Little Giant, Max Rowley, and four given to four different Fontbonne Griffins.
 
Wabash carried the one-goal lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
The second half was a continuation of the first half's physical play and back-and-forth possessions. Both Wabash and Fontbonne (0-5-1) had opportunities near the goal but could not put the ball in the goal.
 
At the 89^th minute, junior Max Rowley blasted a ball past the Fontbonne goalkeeper to give Wabash an insurance goal as time ticked away in the second half. Kajmakoski earned the assist with a pass to Rowley as he approached the goal. That sealed the Wabash victory, and provided a boost for the Little Giants' morale heading into a tough stretch of games.
 
 
"I think earlier in the year we were playing good soccer, but just couldn't find a way to win. Now, our young guys are starting to grow more confident and so it gives us a little more depth off the bench," Keller said. "We've won three out of the last four games. I'm looking forward to peaking around our conference opener in a few weeks."
 
The Little Giants host Anderson University in a non-conference game before beginning the North Coast Athletic Conference portion of the schedule. Wabash will look to take advantage of this final tune-up game at home, before they travel to Meadville, Pennsylvania to play Allegheny College September 24.