GRANVILLE, Ohio (October 7, 2023) – Seniors Callie Davis, Ellie Reiser and Caroline Garrard all scored within a 42-second span early in the second half as the Denison University women's soccer team defeated Kenyon College 3-0 during a cold and rainy Senior Day at Deeds Field-Piper Stadium.

Davis, Reiser, Garrard, Megan Hovan and Katie Harding were each recognized prior to the match as a part of the Senior Day ceremony. These seniors have won 22 matches in their three full seasons together and have helped lead the team to the 2021 North Coast Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship, followed by an NCAC Tournament Championship and an appearance in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 2022.

In addition to the Senior Day festivities, former coach Gail Murphy was presented with a framed jersey and recognized at halftime for her 26 years as head coach of the Big Red.

It was the first NCAC match of the season for the Big Red, who fell 2-0 against the Owls during the regular season last year before knocking Kenyon out of the conference tournament with a 1-0 victory in the semifinals.

Both Denison, the 2021 NCAC regular-season champion, and Kenyon, the 2022 regular-season champion, entered Saturday's matchup with at least a week of rest under their belt, and both teams finished with three shots on goal in a scoreless first half while Denison led 7-1 in corner kicks.

Denison came out swinging to start the second half as just over a minute into the period, a screamer from 20 yards out by Davis was delivered into the top right corner of the goal.

That was then the start of a crazy stretch as Davis found Reiser on the quick attack to make it 2-0 from the same exact spot as Davis' goal just 15 seconds later.

Then 27 seconds after that, A beautiful pass into the box by Kendall Sierens found Garrard, who got around the goalkeeper and scored to make it 3-0.

Then in the 78th minute, Hovan got into the act with a quick pass back to Kate Dalimonte, who scored from 35 yards out off the post to make it 4-0 as the Big Red continued to do damage from long range.

Defensively, the Big Red held the Owls to just one shot on goal in the second half while all four of Denison's shots on goal in the period found the back of the net.

One match after making a career-high five saves, sophomore goalkeeper Molly Noga made four saves and recorded her second-straight shutout.

In addition to the win in its conference opener, Denison's record improves to 4-2-4 overall on the season while Kenyon's falls to 5-2-4 and 0-1.
 

Senior Day Recap:

Callie Davis has appeared in 43 matches in her career with 28 starts, and has started in all 10 matches so far this season. She has logged 11 goals, four assists, and five game-winning goals in her career so far. She has three goals and two assists so far this season and is tied for the team lead with eight points. As a sophomore in 2021. Davis was second on the team with five goals and 11 points. A one-time NCAC Athlete of the Week in 2021 and a 2023-23 Denison Chi Alpha Sigma inductee, Davis has also been named to the NCAC Academic Honor Roll in both 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Caroline Garrard has appeared in 39 matches in her career with 27 starts, and has started in all 10 matches so far this season. She has recorded eight goals and three assists in her career. She has three goals and two assists so far this season and is tied for the team lead with eight points. As a junior in 2022, Garrard led the Big Red with five goals scored and 11 points, was named Second-Team All-Conference, earned a spot on the NCAC All-Tournament Team, and was named the NCAC Athlete of the Week. In addition to being inducted into Denison's 2022-23 Chi Alpha Sigma Class, Garrard was also a member of the NCAC Academic Honor Roll in both 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Katie Harding has appeared in 45 matches in her career, starting in 30 of 35 matches between her sophomore and junior seasons. Her first-career goal came last season on September 27th at Case Western Reserve University.

Megan Hovan has appeared in six matches so far this season. In her career, she has appeared in nine matches with three shots and two shots on goal.

Ellie Reiser has appeared in 46 matches in her career, starting all but one and starting in all 30 matches over the last two seasons. Reiser has tallied four goals and four assists for the Big Red in her career. Reiser scored two goals and added three assists last season while as a sophomore in 2021, she was named Second-Team All-Conference and Third-Team All-Ohio. A 2022-23 Denison Chi Alpha Sigma inductee, Reiser was also named to the NCAC Academic Honor Roll and was a Denison Top-50 Scholar-Athlete during each of the last years.


Next week will see Denison play twice on the road as the Big Red battle at DePauw University at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11, before taking on the College of Wooster at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 14.