The Case Western Reserve University men’s soccer team keeps rolling, picking up another win against Wilmington College with a final score of 1-0. The team is now an impressive 8-1, and has yet to lose in regulation this year.

The Spartans have been recognized for their outstanding level of play as they have been ranked as 18th in the nation in the NSCAA Division III rankings in the latest poll. It is the first time the Spartans have been ranked nationally since reaching the NCAA tournament in 2011.

The game was defined by a complete overpowering of an inferior Wilmington team, with the Spartans putting up 22 shots, 12 of which were on goal. When asked what worked so well on offense, Head Coach Brandon Bianco said, “We’re moving the ball well and our two forwards are combining with each other better than they did in the weeks prior.”

When asked about the 1-0 result, Bianco said, “If we continue to create chances the goals will come.” The game was more one-sided than the score shows, with the lone goal by fourth-year student Matthew Zembas nearly 21 minutes into the game. After that, the defenses took over.

Spartan goalie Christian Grimme had a quiet night, saving the only shot on goal he faced in the game.

The team was supposed to be taking on a tough challenge against No.1 Kenyon College. When asked about his team’s confidence heading into the tough matchup, Bianco said, “We’re a confident group. Our guys love to play and compete and it doesn’t matter who we play against.”

The Spartans have been on a hot streak thus far this season and were scheduled to take on number one overall Kenyon on Wednesday. However the rain this week made the field unplayable. The Spartans will next head out on the road to take on New York University this weekend to start University Athletic Association play.

Look for this Spartan team to continue to perform well this year, as they are currently riding an impressive six-game win streak. The Spartan defense has been the main factor driving their success, as the team has shut out seven of the nine opponents they have played this year. They have also not let up a goal in their last four games.