FRANKLIN, Ind. (September 11, 2023) – A pair of early first-half goals by Chris Giglio and Phil Koutsaftis looked like it would be enough to propel the Denison University men's soccer team to victory, but a late goal in the final 36 seconds of the match for Franklin College resulted in a 2-2 tie for the Big Red on Monday evening.

Denison (4-0-1 overall) scored first just two and a half minutes into the match when a beautiful long pass down field by Tyler Weiss found Giglio open down the right sideline. All Giglio had in front of him was the goalie to beat, and he was just able to trickle the ball past the keeper.

Then after Franklin (0-3-1) responded with its first goal of the season in the 11th minute, Denison had to answer back and did so in the 17th minute when Jake Krueger stole the ball from the opposition in the left corner, took the ball into the box and found Koutsaftis for the low goal kicked to the far-right side of the goal.

Denison outshot Franklin 8-1 in shots on goal in the first half as Ian Rowe made six saves for the home team, including three saves in a span of one minute and 46 seconds starting just within in the final four minutes of the half.

The final shot of the opening period for the Big Red saw a solid strike from about 25 yards out by Ben Goeller smack off the post and eventually end back into the arms of Rowe.

In the second half, Krueger had a pair of shots saved by Rowe in the 52nd and 55th minutes before Zach Barr, who entered the match in the second half, made his lone save in the 65th minute.

Denison continued to try and add to its lead as Niko Argyros missed right in the 76th minute and Cameron McIntosh missed high in the 84th.

The missed opportunities came back to haunt Denison as after a long throw-in into the box by Franklin in the final minute, Barr was unable to hold onto the ball, leading to a low shot through traffic by the Grizzlies that got past every defender and left the Big Red stunned.

Shots in the second half were even at four apiece while corner kicks were 7-1 in favor of Denison.

Krueger led the team by putting all three of his shots on goal while Jack Rice did the same with both of his shot attempts.

Next up for Denison will be a home matchup against Centre College at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 15. Like Monday's match against the Grizzlies, Friday will be the first matchup between the Big Red and the Colonels.