CHICAGO, Ill. – The Webster University men's soccer team saw its memorable 2026 campaign come to a close Friday afternoon, falling 4-1 to nationally ranked University of Chicago in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament at Stagg Field.
The Gorloks conclude their season with a 10-3-4 overall record after capturing both the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) regular-season and tournament championships, earning an appearance on the national stage.
Webster faced an early deficit after an own goal put UChicago ahead in the fifth minute. The Gorloks worked to respond, generating five first-half shots, including an opportunity from Tom Walton in the 40th minute, but entered the break trailing 2-0.
Despite the deficit, Webster came out aggressively in the second half, creating several opportunities in the opening minutes. Scott Price, Elmin Lemes and Blake Cain each registered shots as the Gorloks looked to cut into the lead.
UChicago extended its advantage to 4-0 in the 57th minute, but Webster continued to battle, generating 11 second-half shots while limiting the Maroons to six attempts over the final 45 minutes.
The Gorloks broke through in the 81st minute when Lemes found the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
Webster finished with a 16-13 advantage in total shots, including an 11-6 edge in the second half. Lemes led the Gorloks with five attempts, including two on goal, while Price and Alberto Duque Gonzalez added three shots apiece. Goalkeeper Jakub Samelko recorded five saves in the contest.
Webster's championship campaign was highlighted by a perfect 8-0 record in SLIAC play, during which the Gorloks outscored their opponents 27-2 and recorded six shutouts. The team carried that success into the conference tournament, defeating Lyon College 1-0 in the semifinals before earning a 9-2 victory over Greenville University in the championship match to secure its NCAA Tournament berth.
The Gorloks also collected eight All-SLIAC selections, highlighted by three major individual awards. Duque Gonzalez was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year, Samelko earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and head coach Nenad Curic was selected as Coach of the Year.
