The Denison men's soccer team scored three times in the first half en route to a 3-0 shutout of Allegheny College in Saturday's North Coast Athletic Conference opener at Barclay-Thomsen Field in Granville.

The Big Red wasted no time grabbing an early lead in their first conference game of the 2014 season. At the 11:45 mark, freshman Will Kendall found the back of the net for the first time in his collegiate career. Kendall settled a bouncing ball in the box, dribbled around an Allegheny defender and ripped a shot past the sliding keeper for the game's first tally.

After each team registered a shot that went left of the goal, Denison took advantage of their first corner kick opportunity. Senior Mark Waterman sent a beautiful ball towards the far post that found classmate Corey Ricketts. Ricketts redirected the ball with his head off the crossbar and into the goal for his second score of the season. That same duo would team up right before the half on Denison third corner attempt of the period.  In the 44th minute, Ricketts used his head once again to send a shot past the Allegheny keeper, increasing DU's lead to 3-0 as the teams entered the break.

The Gators went on to outshoot the Big Red in the second half. However, none of Allegheny's attempts over the entire 90 minutes would find their way on frame. Like the offense, the physicality also picked up in the second period. The two teams combined for 19 infractions in the second period and 32 for entire game. Each squad was also issued two yellow cards apiece. Denison outshot the Gators 13-10 over the course of 90 minutes. DU also had twice as many corners (8-4).

Ricketts' two goals came on his only two shots of the game, while Kendell's game winner was on his lone attempt. Senior Andrew Stewart led the way with three shots, while freshman Jake Girardot also had two attempts. Junior Blake Schach played all 90 minutes in goal for DU.

Allegheny's Axel Monzon attempted a team-best four shots. Keeper Jake Pugliese had four saves and allowed three goals in 90 minutes between the pipes.

Denison improves to 4-3-1 on the year and 1-0 in the NCAC, while the loss drops the Gators to 4-5-1 and 0-1 in conference action. The Big Red returns to the pitch on Wednesday (Oct. 1) when they host Heidelberg in a nonconference match. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.