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A tough schedule gets even tougher this weekend for the Menlo College football team, which travels to Indianapolis, Ind., to take on the NAIA's No. 1-ranked team in the nation, Marian University, on Saturday.

The Oaks just hosted Wesley College, the No. 6-ranked NCAA Division III on Saturday and dropped a 30-13 decision. Menlo fell to 4-3 while Wesley improved to 6-1.

Menlo saw its homecoming game spoiled as it surrendered four touchdowns of at least 20 yards, three of which were from at least 40 yards out and two from 60. The result is a two-game losing streak for the Oaks.

Menlo fought to the end in its bid at two separate comebacks, chopping a pair of three-touchdown deficits into a two-possession game. Down 21-0, the opening drive of the third quarter saw the Oaks go 82 yards on 10 plays, culminating in a Matt Pelesasa-to-Robert Adan 25-yard TD strike for Menlo's first points of the afternoon. A missed extra point kept the margin at 21-6.

Adan led the Oaks after hauling in seven catches for the second consecutive game, racking up 85 yards and a score.

Late in the third quarter, Wesley got its three-touchdown lead back on a 43-yard reverse for a 27-6 led.

Menlo began the fourth quarter with its backs against the wall, down by 21, but kept its hopes alive by producing a key turnover. With 13:15 to go, junior Camyar Meshkaty forced and recovered a fumble from Wesley senior quarterback Justin Sottilare that quickly translated into six for the Oaks.

After the turnover, Pelesasa orchestrated a six-play, 30-yard touchdown drive, wrapping up with the Oaks' senior QB diving into the end zone from two yards out to make it a 27-13 game with still 11:06 minutes remaining.

Pelesasa finished his afternoon with a season-high 240 yards passing, completing 20-of-30 passes with one interception.

The Oaks never were able to get it inside of two possessions in the second half, with the Wolverines eventually tacking on a 34-yard field goal late in the fourth to push the margin to 17 points.

Menlo gave up 283 passing yards and rushed for a season-low 101 yards. The Oaks had 341 total yards compared to Wesley's 432.

Women's soccer
It took overtime, but Menlo prevailed in a critical Cal Pac clash against host Merced, 3-2. Three minutes into the extra frame, junior Natalie Ingram scorched one into the back of the net, the assist by freshman Raquel DeJesus, to put Menlo (2-2, 11-4) into the win column over the Bobcats (5-3, 2-2).

Menlo accounted for the only first-half score, a goal in the 36th minute by senior Kristina Roome, before a wild second half with three total goals got underway.

Ingram struck first with a goal in the 57th minute to give the Lady Oaks a 2-0 advantage, but that would change in a hurry. Two minutes later, junior CC Vazquez lit up the scoreboard to push the match back to a one-goal affair.

The tilt stayed that way until just under five minutes left, when Merced produced the equalizer on a Desiree Coles' score.

Sophomore Arielle Peraza and junior Whitney Galindo split time in net, with each allowing one goal, and Galindo making three total saves. Menlo outshot Merced, 13-8, including 8-5 in the shots-on-goals department.

— Menlo College Athletics

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