Oberlin, Ohio – Not one, not two, but three goals by Oberlin College senior Nick Wertman lifted the 17^th-ranked Yeomen over the visiting Case Western Reserve University Spartans, 3-2, on Wednesday night at Fred Shults Field.
 
The Yeomen, who rank second in the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) Great Lakes Region, extended their unbeaten streak to nine matches and are now 6-0-1 in front of their home crowd this season.
 
A mere 5:20 away from extra time with the match even at 2-2, the timely heroics of Wertman once again came into the spotlight as he found himself unmarked on the back post and easily sent in a beautiful cross from the far side by Trenton Bulucea for his fifth game-winning goal of the season and eighth of his career.
 
The Yeomen wasted no time in getting on the board early as Wertman continued his torrid scoring pace, netting the first of his three-part act just 3:58 into the match. He ripped a low piercing strike from the right side of the box that trickled off the hands of Case goalie Calvin Boyle into the back of the net.
 
Wertman, who has now scored in four of the last five matches, almost made it a 2-0 Yeomen lead in the 21^st minute as he was left all alone in the box but sent a cross from Adam Chazin-Gray over the crossbar.
 
Moments later the Spartans would find the equalizer on Josh Prosser's fifth tally of the season. A Yeomen foul just outside the box set the Spartans up on prime real estate. Jacob Grindel took the direct kick and hooked a shot around the wall, but Koryn Kraemer made a dive to his right to save Grindel's initial shot, however, Prosser was in perfect position for the follow.
 
Late in the frame the Yeomen had another promising run that was thwarted by the Spartans' rearguard as a dangerous through-ball by Bulucea gave Jack McMillin a chance, but he was ultimately shutoff by his marker inside the box.
 
The Spartans started the second half with a renewed energy and put pressure on the Yeomen backline right from the restart. Their persistence would ultimately pay off as Alex Keller-Biehl streaked through the box and chested in a cross from the nearside wing in the 54^th minute.
 
Trailing 2-1, the Yeomen were able to reassert themselves back in the offensive of third. Boyle got caught out of position as Wertman and Jonah Blume-Kemkes had looks at the goal that got denied by the Spartans' rearguard that was stepping in for Boyle. However, during the scrum the Spartans committed a foul in the box to give the Yeomen a chance to tie it with a penalty. Wertman would step to the spot and rifle his free kick into the top shelf to square the match.
 
The Spartans also had threating chances late in the contest. A setpiece from the left side of the 18-yard box with 8:05 remaining looked promising, but the Spartans were whistled for offsides.
 
After the go-ahead goal from Wertman, the Spartans were scrambling to force overtime and nearly got their wish in the 89^th minute as a bouncing ball through the middle was one-timed by Keller-Biehl and sailed just wide of the left post.
 
Oberlin finished with an 18-14 edge in shots, including a 10-6 margin in shots on goal. Case triggered four corners, while the Yeomen had three.
 
Kraemer made four saves in his 90 minutes of work as he now has 48 stops on the year.
 
It will be all conference opponents the rest of the way for the Yeomen, starting on Saturday when they travel to Wabash College for a key NCAC clash beginning at noon.