A pair of second half goals powered the Denison men's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Elizabethtown on the opening day of the 33rd Annual Blue Jay Classic.

The Blue Jay offense was kicking on all cylinders early on before Mother Nature reared her ugly head.  The heavy rains forced a 90 minute delay and a change in venue from Elizabethtown's grass stadium to a practice field.  Roughly five minutes after play resumed, the Blue Jays struck for the first goal when Zach Lee headed in a corner kick from Adriano Maneo at 25:06.

The tables turned significantly following the goal as the Denison attack threw a barrage of shots towards the Elizabethtown net over a seven minute span.  After Mark Waterman and Bob Casarona failed to find the back of the net, senior captain Ryan Torgersen evened the score in the 41st minute.  Zach McKelvey sent in a free kick that was taken by Torgersen.  The senior took a few dribbles and uncorked a shot into the upper right 90 to knot the game at 1-1.

With the game up for grabs in the second period, the DU offense swung momentum in its favor when Blake Miller scored for the fifth time in three games.  Collin Hockenbury set up the go-ahead goal with a cross from the right side.  Miller settled the cross at the penalty dot and placed his shot into the lower right corner.

At 78:02, the Blue Jays were issued a red card and forced to play the rest of the game a man down.  A minute and 13 seconds later, JJ Dix ended Elizabethtown's hopes with a sliding goal off a cross by Miller.

Both teams attempted 11 shots and three corner kicks.  Miller paced the Denison offense a goal and an assist, while Waterman attempted a team-best four shots.  Junior keeper Matt Wagner made three saves, while Blue Jay starter Eric Carr made two saves.  Goalie Rodrigo Barrera played the entire second half and suffered the loss.

The Big Red improves to 3-0-1 on the year, while Elizabeth town falls to 0-2-1.  Denison returns to action on Sunday (Sept. 9) when they battle Kean at 2 p.m. on the final day of the Blue Jay Classic.