GRANVILLE, Ohio (September 16, 2022) – Two more goals by senior Ethan Miracle, who now has seven goals in six matches so far this season, helped send the Denison University men's soccer team to a 2-1 win in an intense matchup against Marietta College on Friday night under the lights inside Deeds Field-Piper Stadium.

Denison, which was the top team receiving votes in the first United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll of the regular season released earlier this week, remained undefeated six matches into the season and earned its third 2-1 win in a row to improve to 4-0-2. Marietta, meanwhile, fell to 1-2-3 after suffering its first loss of the season last time out, 2-1, at Franciscan University on Wednesday.

Marietta got on the board first on their first shot of the match as thanks to a bad bounce in the box off a blocked pass by the Big Red defense, the loose ball was sent into the bottom left of the net for a nice finish to put the Pioneers up 1-0 less than 15 minutes in.

Denison found the equalizer 10 minutes later on a gorgeous cross by Jake Krueger past the diving goalkeeper and another sliding Marietta defender to a wide open Miracle to make it 1-1.

The Big Red very nearly took the lead less than three minutes into the second half as a nice pass downfield from Kreuger found Miracle, who then beat his defender and delivered a great cross to Cameron McIntosh in the middle of the box, but his header was just blocked away.

After a shot by Miracle was saved on a nice play by the Marietta goalkeeper, Luke Price, in the 64th minute, a corner kick by Ben Goeller led to a shot by Vitor Rocha that was also saved by Price.

Marietta's best chance in the second half come after a turnover by the Big Red led to a shot for the Pioneers from about 35 yards out in the middle of the field that challenged Tommy Prokos for a save in the 74th minute.

In the 76th minute, a powerful shot from Corey Brunner hit the crossbar. Then after a shot wide left by Lorenz Hoover to start the 78th minute, Denison came down with the ball off the ensuing goal kick, and then a great pass off the back heel by Krueger found Miracle streaking downfield with only the goalie to beat to make it 2-1 Big Red. For Krueger, his two assists give him four over the last three matches for the Big Red.

With only one minute left in the match, a free kick by the Pioneers from 25 yards out was saved by a diving Prokos to preserve the victory.

Denison's Head Coach Brandon Bianco spoke after the match, saying "Credit to Marietta on a good match. We wanted to get the first goal tonight and they found it which put us on our back foot. Thankfully, we continue to find ways to get back into matches and timely goals again were the difference. We need to keep getting better and clean up some details in our play, which we'll do as we move forward."

Denison will remain at home to host John Carroll University at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21. It will be the first match this season for the Big Red back on the grass at Barclay-Thomsen Field.