CLEVELAND, OH - No. 3-seeded Denison prevailed 1-0 over No. 2-seeded DePauw, while No. 1-seeded John Carroll claimed a 1-0 victory over No. 4-seeded Kenyon to advance to the tournament title game. The Big Red will travel to University Heights, Ohio to face the Blue Streaks on Sunday, November 9, at 12:00 p.m.
#1 JOHN CARROLL (12-5-1) 1, #4 KENYON (9-4-5) 0
- The opening half was tightly contested, with both defenses absorbing pressure and limiting clear looks on goal. Kenyon junior goalkeeper Ariel Kite (Evanston, IL/Evanston Township High) made multiple saves to keep the match level, including stops in the 11th and 41st minutes.
- Kenyon found momentum late in the half, earning several free kicks and creating chances through the midfield. Sophomores Claire Pruner (Kirkland, WA/The Bear Creek School) and Emily Copeland (Worthington, OH/Bishop Watterson) each registered shots during the stretch, with Copeland landing one on frame; however John Carroll junior goalkeeper Madeline Martin (Huntsburg, OH/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) held firm to send the game into halftime tied 0-0.
- After the break, John Carroll earned back-to-back corners in the 51st and 52nd minutes with Kite making two stops. The Kenyon offense continued to push forward and earned a corner in the 76th minute and then again in the 78th minute with a dangerous look on goal from Copeland that required another save from Martin.
- The breakthrough came in the 81st minute when John Carroll senior Emily Patrzyk (Twinsburg, OH/Twinsburg) tallied a shot into the upper corner from the left side of the box, giving the Blue Streaks the 1-0 lead.
- Kenyon generated late pressure in the final minutes, including shots from sophomore Holly Byun (Yorba Linda, CA/Lutheran HS of Orange County) and Copeland, but the Owls were unable to find the equalizer.
- Copeland led the Owls with three shots, two of which were on target, while Patrzyk led JCU with two shots on frame.
- Kite and Martin each finished with four saves apiece in goal, while JCU outshot Kenyon 16-10 and held a 4-2 edge in corners.
#3 DENISON (9-4-5) 1, #2 DEPAUW (10-7-1) 0
- Denison struck early, finding the back of the net in the sixth minute thanks to junior Mara McGlone (Worthington, OH/Worthington Kilbourne), who redirected a ball from classmate Mattie Mielke (Denver, CO/Colorado Academy) at the top of the box to put Denison ahead 1-0.
- The Big Red carried that momentum through the first half, generating quality chances and placing four more shots on frame; however DePauw junior goalkeeper Aubree Empie (Carmel, IN/Carmel) kept the Tigers within reach, making all four stops.
- The DePauw offense had several chances to even the score, while earning three first-half corner kicks and forcing Denison senior goalkeeper Molly Noga (Springboro, OH/Archbishop Alter) into a key save in the 27th minute. The Tiger’s best look at an equalizer came late in the first half as sophomore Emmy Streeter (Fishers, IN/Fishers) rattled a shot off the crossbar at the 44:37 mark.
- In the second half, Mielke’s attempt at an insurance goal was stopped by Empie in the 67th minute, while DePauw senior Sadie Gibson (Clarksville, TN/Northeast) put a shot on frame in the 73rd minute that was stopped by Noga. Empie was forced to make another save in the 82nd minute off a shot by senior Isabella Guzman (Lake Forest, IL/Loyola Academy) before first-year Lily Ault (Noblesville, IN/Noblesville) put one last shot on goal for the Tigers in the 84th minute that was saved by Noga.
- Noga finished with four saves to secure the clean sheet and recorded Denison’s ninth shutout of the season, while Empie made six saves in the semifinal loss.
- Denison sophomore Megan Mulvey (Reading, MA/Brooks School) led all players with two shots on goal and three total shots, while Guzman and senior Sophia Grueninger (Indianapolis, IN/North Central) led DePauw with two shots apiece.