GAMBIER, Ohio (November 2, 2022) – The fourth-seeded Denison University women's soccer team traveled to top-seeded Kenyon College for the semifinals of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament and would advance past the Owls with a 1-0 victory thanks to a second-half goal from Ellie Reiser.

Denison, now 6-8-4 overall, avenges a late-season loss at Kenyon, which finishes its season at 7-6-4 overall after earning its first NCAC regular-season title since the 2017 season. With the win, Denison will travel to play the winner of the Ohio Wesleyan University and DePauw University semifinal match later on tonight.

After limiting Kenyon to only two shots on goal but still falling 2-0 on the road during their regular-season matchup last week (Oct. 26), the Big Red would outshoot the Owls 19-4 this time around, including 9-0 on shots on goal as Kenyon never really presented a challenge to goalkeeper Wynne Hague or the rest of the Denison defense.

The Denison offense, meanwhile, played a very aggressive second half and capitalized on a nice ball played forward by Dulcie Heyes to Reiser in the box to put the Big Red on the board in the 73rd minute. Reiser was able finish the goal into the bottom left corner of the net past the Kenyon goalkeeper Leah Anderson, who finished with eight saves on the day.

With the one-goal lead in hand, Denison would spend the next 10 minutes with great ball control while limiting Kenyon's time in its attacking third.

Reiser tried to put the nail in the coffin with a shot in the 84th minute, but a diving save by Anderson kept the score at 1-0.

Denison would continue to play tremendous defense and make Kenyon continue to chew clock by having multiple throw-ins in a row to secure the 1-0 victory.

To start the match, Denison nearly got on the board just two minutes in as a shot from Rieser was blocked away before the redirect would find Maddie Reap, who fired her shot just above the crossbar.

In the 16th minute, a cross from Caroline Garrard set up a header from Amy Chiero that was pushed just wide of the left post.

The Big Red continued to keep the ball in their attacking third and in the 23rd minute, Avery Butler launched a shot from just outside the box that Anderson was able to jump on and save. Just three minutes later, Caroline Flynn would have an excellent attempt before Anderson was able to run over to the bottom right corner to pick up her third save of the first half.

In the second half, Anderson made another save on a shot in front of the goal by Heyes in the 49th minute, and then Chiero's attempt in the 58th minute went off the right post.

In the end, Denison had 10 players with at least one shot attempt and eight with at least one shot on goal.

With what was its first NCAC Tournament win since 2016, Denison secured its 10th berth to the championship match of the NCAC Tournament and will be now seeking its fourth NCAC Tournament championship overall. The title match is set for Saturday, November 5, with the time for kickoff still to be determined.