Dana Congrove / Khaliun Ganibal
Denison, Kenyon Set for Men's Soccer Tournament Title Game
CLEVELAND, OH – The top two seeds prevailed in the semifinal round of the 2026 North Coast Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament. No. 1 Kenyon captured a 1-0 victory over No. 4 DePauw, while No. 2 Denison collected a 2-1 win over No. 3 John Carroll in overtime.
The Owls will host the Big Red in Sunday’s tournament title game at 1:00 p.m. in Gambier, Ohio.
#1 KENYON (15-3-0) 1, #4 DEPAUW (12-5-1) 0
- Kenyon had all the momentum early as the Owls took the first half’s first six shots, but DePauw senior Sam Ortner (Wauwatosa, WI/Wauwatosa East) saved the two shots on goal to weather the storm.
- Despite being held without a shot until the 34th minute, the Tigers nearly took the lead on the first look, but junior Harrison Engel’s (St. Louis, MO/MICDS) attempt ricocheted off the crossbar. Kenyon sophomore Matt Kayser (Bedford, NY/Colby College) saved a shot shortly thereafter as the game stayed scoreless late into the half.
- With less than five minutes before the break, the scoreless script flipped thanks to Kenyon junior Kevin Farina (Wilmette, IL/New Trier). The defender cleaned up an Owls set piece on a corner kick, putting away a header by first-year Peter Bondartsov (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park and River Forest) as Bondartsov and the corner taker, first-year Luca Bilotto (Montreal, Canada/Northfield Mount Hermon), picked up assists on the goal that put Kenyon ahead 1-0 in the 41st minute.
- The DePauw defense picked up a team save to keep the lead from doubling in the 64th minute as the Owls rattled off three shots in quick succession, and Ortner added two more saves over the next few minutes to keep the margin at one.
- After facing the first two second-half shots, the Kenyon defense held the Tigers without a shot until the 82nd minute, when a Kayser save kept DePauw first-year Paolo Girandola (Cincinnati, OH/Walnut Hills) from finding the equalizer. The shot was the game’s final attempt as the Owls claimed the 1-0 victory.
- Ortner led DePauw with a game-high four saves, while Kenyon’s Kayser saved both of his attempts.
- Kenyon junior Emmett Brown (Minneapolis, MN/Washburn) fired off a game-high three shots in just 20 minutes, while five Tigers tied for DePauw’s team lead with one shot each.
- Overall, the Owls outshot the Tigers 14-5, including a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. DePauw compiled more corner kicks, earning a 7-6 advantage.
#2 DENISON (11-1-6) 2, #3 JOHN CARROLL (7-8-3) 1 (OT)
- Denison struck first in the opening half, taking a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute as senior Henry Gallun (Evanston, IL/North Shore Country Day) found the back of the net on a low shot to the left side. Junior Jack Rice (Lake Bluff, IL/Lake Forest) and sophomore Justin Crow (Baltimore, MD/Calvert Hall College) assisted on the goal as the home team carried the advantage into halftime.
- The Big Red looked to extend their lead in the second half, but John Carroll goalkeeper Bryce Sampson (Boksburg, South Africa/IMG Academy) made several key saves to keep the Blue Streaks within striking distance. Denison continued to generate opportunities, including three consecutive corner kicks in a stretch midway through the half.
- John Carroll found the equalizer in the 79th minute when junior Luka Pranjeta (Eastlake, OH/Willoughby South) sent a shot high into the left side of the net, with senior Louis Roseberry (Dublin, OH/Dublin Jerome) picking up the assist to even the score at 1-1.
- Both teams looked for a go-ahead goal late in regulation, but the defenses held firm to send the semifinal into overtime. Denison goalkeeper Alex Provost (Glen Ridge, NJ/ Montclair Kimberley Academy) made three saves in regulation, while Sampson kept the Blue Streaks even with four saves.
- In the extra period, Denison senior Colin MacDonald (Oakwood, OH/Oakwood) delivered the game-winner in the 98th minute. MacDonald sent a shot high into the center of the net off an assist from senior Kaden Kist (New Albany, OH/New Albany), lifting Denison to the 2-1 overtime victory and a spot in the NCAC Tournament championship game.
- MacDonald led Denison with a game-high three shots, including two on goal, while Gallun added two shots. Pranjeta and junior Rafa De La Barrera (Cleveland, OH/Saint Ignatius) paced John Carroll with two shots apiece.
- Overall, Denison outshot John Carroll 11-9, including a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal. The Big Red also held a commanding 7-1 edge in corner kicks. John Carroll's Sampson finished with four saves, while Provost and Ronan Kiter (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) combined for three saves for Denison.