The Battling Bishops entered the 2025 campaign having set high standards, and this year they absolutely rose to the challenge. With an overall record of 9-9-2 and a conference mark of 4-1-2 in the USA South Athletic Conference, they established themselves as a force to reckon with. Their journey was forged against one of the top 10 hardest schedules in all of Division III, including multiple nationally ranked opponents—tests that shaped their identity and prepared them for the moments when the margins were thinnest.

And those moments defined their season. Time and time again, NC Wesleyan delivered when it mattered most: scoring the tying goal in the USA South Championship in the 89th minute before netting the game-winner in the 94th; striking the decisive goal in the 82nd minute against William Peace in the conference semifinals; erupting for two goals in under two minutes to defeat Greensboro; and earlier in the regular season, scoring **twice in less than nine minutes—including the equalizer with just five seconds left—**to secure a vital result against William Peace. These were not isolated events but the consistent mark of a resilient, battle-tested squad that refused to fold.

Their reward came in the form of the USA South Tournament Championship, secured by a dramatic 3–2 overtime victory over Methodist—a win that crowned them champions and punched their ticket to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament. Entering the national stage was a profound honor for the program, and though Division III does not formally seed teams, the matchup placed NC Wesleyan as the equivalent of a #12 seed facing a Dickinson side that would have been viewed as a #5 seed.

The Battling Bishops traveled to Carlisle, Pennsylvania to face the #1 seed Dickinson in the first round of the tournament. 

• Final Score: NC Wesleyan 0, Dickinson 5.

• Corner kicks: Wesleyan 2 to Dickinson's 1.

• Saves: Wesleyan's goalkeepers combined for 7 saves; Dickinson's keeper made 2 saves.

• Shots: Wesleyan had 9 (4 in the first half, 5 in the second); Dickinson had 18 (10 first half, 8 second).

Despite the challenging result, several NC Wesleyan players stood out with determined individual performances. Jaden Delos provided an immediate spark off the bench, logging 49 high-energy minutes and registering both of Wesleyan's shots on goal, making him the team's sharpest offensive threat. Tom Roantree generated two shots—including a near-breakthrough moment early in the match when he unleashed a stunning effort from 40 yards that rattled off the crossbar, nearly giving the Bishops the opening goal. Defender Daan Post contributed two shots of his own, pushing forward effectively from the back line, while Nicolas Sautua battled relentlessly in midfield, adding another shot and influencing the match on both sides of the ball. In goal, Jacob Westermark and Facundo Boismoreau combined for seven saves under steady pressure, demonstrating grit against one of the nation's top teams.

The experience of reaching the NCAA tournament itself is profound—stepping onto that field, representing the program, the school, and the community.