The Big Red picked up a critical 2-1 Great Lakes Region victory on Wednesday afternoon over the No. 25 Centre College Colonels from Barclay-Thomsen Field in Granville.  Denison evened the match at 1-1 right before halftime and came back with the go-ahead goal just two minutes into the second half as the defense held off the Colonels down the stretch.

Centre got on the scoreboard first when Brittany Garr played a corner kick to the head of Rachel Brannen who converted her first goal of the season in the sixth minute of play.  In the 21st minute Denison got their best chance to score when Kimmi Oshita (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) dribbled into position from the top of the 18-yard box before letting loose a shot that just barely sailed over the top of the crossbar.

The score would remain 1-0 in favor of the visitors until the 44th minute when a Colonel defender was whistled for a handball in the box, thus awarding DU a penalty kick.  Oshita took the attempt, a first in her stellar career, and knocked it into the back of the net for her ninth goal of the season.

Right out of the gates in the second half the Big Red took control as Jen Clemmer (Hixson, Tenn./The Baylor School) sent a shot on-goal that was saved by Centre goalkeeper Kelli Lenz.  On the same possession, Clemmer would send a ball from the right side of the field that appeared to be a cross.  The ball had enough muscle behind it that it kept bending toward the goal, eventually connecting with the upper left corner, giving Denison a 2-1 lead.

Over the next 40+ minutes the Denison back line was there to turn away every Centre attack.  In the 59th minute the Colonels had their best opportunity to score when Garr headed a ball into what looked to be an open net.  At the last minute Denison's Jenn Sloan (Bethesda, Md./Sidwell Friends) got there to record the team save and preserve their one-goal lead.

Another close call occurred in the 84th minute when Centre's Amy Hebbeler blasted a shot from just inside the 18 right at DU keeper Andrea Karl (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) who was there for the save.

Denison outshot Centre 11-6 in the second half.  They held a 16-14 advantage in shots over the 90 minutes of play.  Clemmer led DU with eight shots and Oshita took four.  Lenz posted five saves for the Colonels while Karl turned in six saves for the Big Red.

The victory improves Denison's record to 11-5-2 overall while Centre drops to 14-3-0.  The Big Red will close out their 2010 regular season schedule on Saturday when they travel to Hiram College for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Terriers.

Prior to the start of today's game Denison's six senior members: Jen Clemmer, Haley Gewehr, Maggie Hoskin, Eliza Miller, Kimmi Oshita and Jenn Sloan were honored for their contributions to the Denison women's soccer program.  The group has combined for 56 victories and a .716 winning percentage since 2007.