Box Score With temperatures at Barclay-Thomsen Field nearing triple digits, the Big Red sucked up their courage (along with plenty of water) and battled Hope College to a 1-1 tie to open the 2011 campaign.
In a memorable match-up where substitutions were critical and proper hydration was imperative, Hope and Denison slugged it out for 110 minutes and left everything on the pitch.
Hope, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament a season ago, drew first blood when Andrew Abe finished off a flurry of action for the Dutchmen. After Matthew VanZytveld lifted a pass into the box, Grant Neil was there with the header which redirected toward Abe who finished off the score in the 12th minute of play.
Over the next 98 minutes the Big Red would shutout the Dutchmen while battling a setting sun that loomed over Barclay-Thomsen Field for much of the contest.
In the first half of play Hope edged DU in shots, 5-4, but the Big Red had two strong opportunities off headers when Will Krentz and Corey Ricketts both sent shots wide of the goal. In the second half, the Big Red would break free after a Hope foul awarded them with an indirect free kick from 20-yards away. First-year Mark Waterman gave the ball a first touch, setting up Preston Wagner and a right-footed blast that bent into the upper right corner of the goal, tying the match at 1-1.
With just under 10 minutes to play in regulation, Denison would create a pair of scoring chances when Chris Olson and Ryan Torgersen forced Dutchman goalkeeper Logan Neil into save situations. In the 20 minutes of overtime DU would outshoot Hope, 4-2 as Logan Neil would notch the lone save of the extra sessions after denying JJ Dix in the 98th minute.
Denison wound up holding a 16-12 lead in the shot department as six of their 16 shots were on-frame. Hope put three of their 12 shots on-goal, forcing Denison goalkeeper Matt Wagner to make two saves.
Preston Wagner led DU with four shots and one goal. Dix attempted three shots in his collegiate debut while Will Krentz and Olson posted a pair of shots.
Logan Neil ended the match with five saves to his credit and Abe tied for the team lead with two shots.
Denison will not have much time to rest as they return to their home field tomorrow evening to host Capital University at 7 p.m.
