GRANVILLE, Ohio (October 22, 2022) – Amy Chiero scored first for the Denison University women's soccer team 10 minutes into the match, but an early second-half goal by Ohio Wesleyan University resulted in a 1-1 tie between the Big Red and the Battling Bishops during Alumni Day at Barclay-Thomsen Field.

It was a matchup between the top two teams in the North Coast Athletic Conference women's soccer standings as in the end, Denison (4-7-4 overall, 3-0-2 NCAC) wrapped up their three-match homestand by remaining undefeated five matches into NCAC action for the fourth season in a row.

After scoring five goals last time out against DePauw, including two goals in the first 10 minutes of the match, Denison kept its momentum going and struck first in this one with a goal 10 minutes in as Chiero collected the ball just from outside the box and lofted it into the top right corner, just over the outstretch hands of the goalkeeper. It was the third goal in two matches this week for Chiero after scoring twice against DePauw on Tuesday.

However, Denison would have only one more shot on goal in the first half despite finishing with a total of 14 shots in the first 45 minutes and holding OWU (10-2-3, 3-1-1) to without an attempt.

Then to start the second half, Chiero nearly scored again less than a minute in as she made a great move with the ball to get around her defender before her shot was saved by Natalie Ryan.

Unfortunately, just over four minutes later, a misstep by the Big Red goalkeeper trying to come out for a ball on a free kick left the goal undefended, and an opportunistic shot by the Battling Bishops tied it at 1-1.

In the 75th minute, a cross by Caroline Garrard led to a shot by Sophia Connell that was saved by Ryan, and then starting in the 82nd minute, the Denison defense had to make a stand to keep it tied as Kate Dalimonte came up with a big defensive save on a header before back-to-back blocked shots by the Big Red defense after that.

After a cross by Kendall Sierens, Leland Keller missed wide left in the 86th minute, and then a powerful free kick by Avery Butler with under 3:30 left went straight into the waiting hands of Ryan.

Both teams finished with five total shots and two shots on goal in the second half as Garrard finished with a match-high five shot attempts while Ellie Reiser and Keller both had four and Chiero had three.

Next up, Denison will play in its final road match of the regular season at Kenyon College at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, before wrapping up the regular season at home at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, against the College of Wooster.