LANCASTER, Pa. – It really was a storybook ending for Wes Wise and the Franklin & Marshall men's soccer team on Saturday night under the lights of Tylus Field versus McDaniel. After celebrating Senior Day prior to the match, the Diplomats rallied from a 1-0 first half deficit that was capped by Wes Wise's game-winning goal with just 3:01 remaining in regulation time.
Highlighted prior to the game for his play in the big moments, Wise once again delivered when his team needed him the most as his first goal of the season sent his senior class out on a winning note. Fellow seniors Nico Gonzalez and Jack Baer also delivered several key plays for the Diplomats throughout the gritty victory.
In a game with 30 combined fouls, McDaniel's Jack Guerrerra scored on a direct kick to give his side a 1-0 lead at the break. Despite the early deficit, Franklin & Marshall controlled the possession throughout the contest and finished with a 17-11 advantage in shots. That margin was 13-7 in favor of the hosts during the final 45 minutes. The Diplomats were first rewarded for those consistent efforts during the 60th minute when Thomas Kaplan finished a loose ball inside the 18 to tie the score at one.
Even after scoring the first, Kaplan sprinted to the goal and immediately returned the ball to midfield while imploring his teammates to keep that relentless pressure. They followed the captain's directive and found the game-winning goal off the foot of Wise during the 87th minute of action. McDaniel pressured late and earned three of its five corner kicks during the final three minutes of regulation. One of the corners banged off the crossbar, but ultimately Sam Sellitti made a save with just under a minute to go leave no doubt as to the final outcome.
Making his first appearance of the season, Sellitti made three saves on the night. In addition to his game-winning goal, Wise led F&M with four shots. He was one of five players who finished with multiple shot attempts.
Saturday's contest marked the conclusion of the 2026 season for the Diplomats who will now look to build on this resilient effort in the coming seasons with a young roster that will only improve in the coming years.
