DELAWARE, Ohio (October 25, 2023) – A battle between the top-two teams in the North Coast Athletic Conference field hockey standings saw Denison University travel to take on the back-to-back NCAC Tournament Champion, Ohio Wesleyan University. Unfortunately, the Big Red fell 3-2 in a shootout that lasted eight rounds against the Battling Bishops on Wednesday.

Both teams entered the day a perfect 8-0 with zero goals allowed in conference play.

As advertised, this one was all about the defense as Denison was outshot 12-0 in regulation but gave up just one shot on goal, which was saved by Athena Joannou in the 57th minute.

Then in the first two minutes of the first overtime period, a penalty corner for OWU led to another save by Joannou, and then the follow-up shot by the Battling Bishops resulted in a defensive save for Rachel Gilio.

After a shot by OWU's Emma Wright went wide in the 65th minute, the Big Red did their best to play keep away from the Battling Bishops for the final five minutes of the first overtime and for the first five minutes of the second.

Then in the 76th minute, Denison's first shot of the contest came from Lila Smith but was saved by Meg McCarthy, and then a penalty corner by Nina Casingal in the 77th minute led to a shot by Tabitha Chandler that was blocked away.

In the shootout, Denison started things off with a make by Chandler before OWU answered right back with a score from Oliva Danley on its first attempt.

Then after the two teams combined for 10 straight misses, it was Chandler who again scored to start off round seven, but yet again the Bishops had the answer as Grace Ammon was able to take advantage of an early dive by Joannou.

After a miss by Gilio to start off round eight, Megan Knee stepped up for OWU, was able to maintain possession as Joannou came out and attempted to knock the ball away, and fired it in for the winning goal.

With the tough loss, Denison falls to 10-5 overall and 8-1 in the NCAC while OWU improves to a perfect 15-0 and 9-0. The 15 straight wins and 12 consecutive shutouts for OWU are the most in school history in both categories.

Wednesday's matchup between Denison and OWU was essentially for the NCAC Championship as the Big Red will conclude their regular season at Washington and Jefferson College while the Battling Bishops will host the College of Wooster. Both games are set for 12 p.m. on Saturday, October 28.