GAMBEIR, OH – Second-seeded Denison claimed the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Men's Soccer Tournament title with a 1-0 win over top-seeded Kenyon in the tournament finale on Sunday, November 8, in Gambier, Ohio. The tournament championship is Denison’s fifth overall, and first since 2023.
As tournament champions, the Big Red earned the NCAC's automatic bid into the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer tournament. The entire 64-team field will be revealed on Monday, Nov. 9, at 11:00 a.m. on NCAA.com via the selection show.
#2 DENISON (12-1-6) 1, #1 KENYON (15-4-0) 0
- The battle for the championship began as a physical contest that saw both teams feel each other out and try to find an advantage. Kenyon earned an early corner while Denison took the game’s first shot, but neither offense posed a significant threat until the midway point of the first half.
- The Big Red nearly broke through at the start of the 22nd minute when senior Jack Rice (Lake Bluff, IL/Lake Forest) sent a promising ball towards the bottom-left corner of Kenyon’s goal, but the Owls defense secured a team save to thwart the try.
- However, Denison made the most of their second try on the possession, scoring on a corner kick to take the lead in the 22nd minute. Senior Miles Crosser (Prairie Village, KS/Shawnee Mission East) played a ball into the box that turned into an assist when junior Colin MacDonald (Oakwood, OH/Oakwood) found the back of the net for the game’s first goal.
- Kenyon kept the pressure on for the rest of the half as the Owls offense tried to find the equalizer, but the home team could not convert despite taking the game’s next three shots and seven corners. All three shots were on target, but Denison sophomore Alex Provost (Glen Ridge, NJ/Montclair Kimberley Academy) saved two, and the Big Red added a team save to keep Kenyon off the board before halftime.
- Denison nearly doubled the lead in the 56th minute, but the ball bounced off the post and back to Kenyon sophomore keeper Matt Kayser (Bedford, NY/Colby College).
- The teams traded attacks for the rest of the half, with Denison taking five shots to Kenyon’s two, but both squads only had one shot on goal apiece. The Owls hung tough despite playing with a man down from the 62nd minute on, but a late shot on goal by first-year Adrian Bondartsov (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park and River Forest) was as close as Kenyon would come as Denison held on for the 1-0 championship victory.
- Kenyon’s Bondartsov and Denison’s Rice were the game’s leading shot takers as both players tied with three total shots and two shots on goal apiece.
- Provost secured a game-best four saves for the Big Red, while Kayser had one save for Kenyon.
- Overall, Denison outshot Kenyon 9-6, though the Owls held the edge in shots on goal, 5-3, and corner kicks, 8-3.
The NCAC All-Tournament team announced at the conclusion of the tournament. Twelve members from Denison, DePauw, John Carroll, and Kenyon made up the squad. For his efforts, Denison junior midfielder Colin MacDonald (Oakwood, OH/Oakwood) was named the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
NCAC Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
Julian Bell, DePauw
Harrison Engel, DePauw
Luka Pranjeta, John Carroll
Louis Roseberry, John Carroll
Andrew Adams, Kenyon
Luca Bilotto, Kenyon
Kevin Farina, Kenyon
Liam Walsh, Denison
Jack Rice, Denison
Miles Crosser, Denison
Andrew Nachtwey, Denison
MVP - Colin MacDonald, Denison