CLEVELAND, OH – No. 2 Denison and No. 4 DePauw prevailed in the semifinal round of the 2024 North Coast Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament. The Big Red captured a 2-1 victory over third-seeded Kenyon, while the Tigers upset top-seeded Ohio Wesleyan, 2-1 in overtime. The tournament title game will be played on Sunday, November 10, at 1:00 p.m. in Granville, Ohio.
#4 DEPAUW (10-4-5) 2, #1 OHIO WESLEYAN (11-4-3) 1 (OT)
- No. 4 DePauw upset No. 1 Ohio Wesleyan 2-1 in overtime to advance to the championship final of the NCAC men’s soccer tourney.
- The Battling Bishops were quick to score after junior Christopher Guerra (Columbus, OH/Worthington Kilbourne) found the back of the net at the 2:11 mark, putting OWU up 1-0 early.
- Despite the early deficit, DePauw continued to apply the pressure by outshooting Ohio Wesleyan 7-3 in the first half.
- After the break, DePauw first-year Harrison Engel (St. Louis, MO/MICDS) scored the equalizer with a header that was assisted by sophomore AJ Hockstok (Westerville, OH/Westerville Central) and classmate Alek Habecker (Zionsville, IN/Zionsville).
- The Battling Bishop offense continued to fire at the Tigers’ backline, launching nine attempts before the end of regulation.
- Extra minutes were needed in the semifinal matchup and at the 6:33 mark of play in additional time, DePauw senior Ethan Webster (Winchester, England/King Edward VI School Southampton) grabbed a loose ball in OWU territory and scored off a shot from the top of the box to secure the upset and advance to the tourney final.
#2 DENISON (12-1-5) 2, #3 KENYON (12-3-3) 1
- No. 2 Denison defeated No.3 Kenyon 2-1 to advance to the NCAC Men’s Soccer tournament final.
- After 32 minutes of scoreless action, junior Phil Koutsaftis (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) fired a shot into the low right side of the goal off a corner kick attempt to put the Big Red up 1-0 with just 12:34 remaining in the half.
- Denison would strike again during the 54th minute of play as sophomore Justin Crow (Baltimore, MD/Calvert Hall College) found the back of the goal on a high center shot which was assisted by first-year Kaden Kist (New Albany, OH/New Albany).
- However, Kenyon senior Eamon Dujakovich (Lenexa, KS/Shawnee Mission West) answered just six minutes later with a low left unassisted goal.
- With 30 minutes remaining, both defenses held strong. The Owls prevented the Big Red from attempting a shot and extending their lead, while Denison’s backline limited Kenyon to just two shots.
- Denison’s one-goal lead proved to be too much for Kenyon to overcome.