The Denison University men's soccer team kept their hopes for a North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament berth alive as they went the distance for the first time this season with No. 21 Kenyon College on Wednesday evening in Granville, Ohio.  The scoreless tie moved DU to 3-3-1 in the conference and earned the Big Red a much needed point as they battle for the final spot in the tournament.

The Kenyon offense dominated the opening 45 minutes of play as they outshot Denison 15-5.  A third of the Lords' first-period shots found their way to Denison first-year goalkeeper Matt Wagner (Nicholasville, Ky./Lexington Catholic), while just one DU attempt reached Kenyon netminder Tyler Schatz.

Late in the opening frame the Lords had a couple of dangerous scoring opportunities.  With roughly eight and a half minutes on the clock Kohei Hotta forced a defensive turnover just outside the 18-yard box, but solid play by the Denison defense thwarted the attempt.  The Lords were awarded a free kick just outside the six-yard box just two minutes later, but a shot attempt by Miguel Barrera from 15 yards out was blocked down by Big Red defender Drew Lash (Ballwin, Mo./Whitfield School).

Each squad had a quality scoring chance in the early stages of the second period.  Kenyon's Felix Hoffmann flicked a header that was saved at the goal line by Wagner in the 50th minute of play.  Roughly five minutes later, junior Preston Wagner (Toronto, Ontario/TASIS American School) sent a ball into the box from the middle third of the field.  Wagner's send was headed on net by Chris Olson (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows), but corralled by Schatz.  The final scoring threat of regulation came with just 26 ticks on the clock when Keith Dangarembwa uncorked a shot from 20 yards out that was snagged by Wagner.  At the end of regulation, the Lords maintained a 27-10 advantage in shots, and an 8-6 edge in corner kicks.

Like in the second frame, each team generated a quality scoring opportunity in the first extra session.  In the 93rd minute, Dangarembwa rifled a shot from 35 yards out that bounced off the crossbar and over the goal.  At the 96:36 mark, a header by Olson looked like it was going to give Denison the win, but his attempt sailed just over the bar.  In the final OT period, Wagner stopped both Kenyon shots on goal to maintain the shutout.

The Lords outshot DU 31-12 for the match, including a 10-2 advantage in shots on net.  Wagner logged a career-high tying 10 saves en route to his second-career shutout, while Schatz stopped two shots.  Olson and senior Ish Ghodbane (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins) paced the Big Red offense with three shots apiece, while Hoffmann notched a game-high seven shots.

Denison (8-7-1) close out the 2010 regular season Saturday when they travel to Hiram, Ohio to take on the Terriers of Hiram College in a key NCAC contest.  Match time is scheduled for 5 p.m.