Sixth-ranked Denison clawed back from a four-goal deficit in the final four minutes of regulation, tying the game with 53 seconds to go.  Just over one minute into overtime, Denison's James Meager scored on a pass from Liam Rooney giving the Big Red an improbable 12-11 overtime win over its rival, Ohio Wesleyan. 

The win marks Denison's second North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Championship in four years.  Denison also receives the NCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

After Conor Caffrey's unassisted goal with 4:17 to play in regulation it was beginning to look as if the Battling Bishops left Piper Stadium with their second-straight conference tournament title.

On the ensuing faceoff, Denison's Eric Baumgardner gained possession and shortly after, OWU's Cooper Del Zotto was flagged for a 30-second penalty on a push.  That gave Denison its fourth EMO of the contest.  After failing to score on the three previous attempts, Jake Waxter hit Rooney in front of the goal for his 23rd goal of the season.  With 3:44 to play Denison trailed 11-8.

Possession would go back to DU after a faceoff violation and with 2:25 to play, Rooney connected with Nick Bortolani from point-blank range, trimming OWU's lead to two.  Even more good news would come Denison's way as a penalty on OWU's Jordan Carlson just after the goal gave Denison its third EMO of the quarter.

DU controlled possession on the faceoff as Baumgardner astutely got the ball to the unguarded wing where John Reinhardt scooped up the ground ball.  DU wouldn't waste any time as first-year Waxter fed Will Donohue from behind the goal for their second man-up goal in the last two minutes.

The Battling Bishops won the next faceoff, but a loose ball that was picked up by Max Tennant just before the ball was to go out of bounds caused Tennant to make a wild pass keeping the ball in play.  Denison got the ground ball and called timeout with 1:38 to play. 

Denison was patient out of the timeout and swung the ball around briskly until Farinholt fed Meager with a crossing pass. He spun and ripped a lefthanded shot into the back of the net, tying the game 11-11 with 53 seconds to go.

After another faceoff win, Denison nearly won the game in regulation as Meager's shot with two seconds to go was saved by Battling Bishop goalie Ben Rigger.  In possibly the biggest turn of events over the final four minutes, Ohio Wesleyan was  flagged for a third time as Carlson was sent to the penalty box for a 30-second technical foul on a push.  That penalty negated the need for a faceoff, giving the ball to Denison to start the overtime.

The Big Red let the EMO expire, and when their first attempt to score resulted in a deflection and a ground ball by the player who took the shot, Farinholt, DU reset and Rooney hit Meager for the game winner, sending the entire Denison bench onto the field in celebration.

There have been plenty of one-goal differentials in the all-time series between Denison and Ohio Wesleyan but five unanswered goals over a period of just 5:01 to end the game may be a first.

Meager was named the Tournament's Most Valuable player after scoring three times in the fourth quarter and overtime.  Rooney was fantastic as he led DU with seven points (3 goals, 4 assists).  Senior attackman, Bortolani, finished with two goals, four ground balls and two caused turnovers.  Reinhardt had five ground balls and two caused turnovers and Baumgardner was 14-for-26 with four ground balls.

Ohio Wesleyan was led by Leyden who scored four goals and had two assists.  Tennant scored twice but committed a game-high four turnovers.  Rigger posted nine saves in goal while Denison's Chris Thomas finished with six.  Joining Meager on the All-Tournament team was Farinholt, Ben Duhoski, Teddy Sawyer and Rooney.

Denison outshot OWU 34-25 and won the hustle category with 35 ground balls to their 25. 

The Big Red's winning streak extends to 15 games and their home winning streak has reached 26.  Denison will take a 16-1 record in the NCAA Tournament.  Ohio Wesleyan drops to 13-4 and will hope for an at-large berth into the postseason.  The NCAA Division III Tournament selection show will be broadcast live on ncaa.com on Sunday, May 8 at 10 p.m.