UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio (September 20, 2023) – Despite trailing 1-0 heading into the final 10 minutes of the match, the Denison University men's soccer team remained undefeated seven matches into the season as the Big Red earned a 2-1 comeback victory over No. 4 nationally-ranked John Carroll University on Wednesday night inside Don Shula Stadium.

JCU scored first less than 11 minutes in when a cross by the Blue Streaks was unable to be cleared by the Big Red, leading to a laser from the top of the box to the bottom left of the goal.

Jake Krueger tried to answer, missing to the right in the 15th minute and missing high and right in the 17th minute.

Then a pair of chances by Krueger and Cole Trigg were both saved by JCU goalkeeper Brenden Moher in the 21st and the 23rd minute, respectively.

Moher made another save on a shot to the back post by Phil Koutsaftis in the 26th minute, and then Denison's best chance to score in the first half saw a save by Moher on a shot by Niko Argyros in front of the goal in the 41st minute.

Moher's fifth and final save of the first half came on a shot by Jack Rice in the 42nd minute.

Denison outshot JCU 7-3 overall on 5-1 on goal in the first half and began to pick up momentum toward the end of the opening 45 minutes.

In the second half, Tommy Prokos made back-to-back saves in the 54th and 55th minutes while Denison's only shot attempt of the first 15 minutes of the period saw Krueger miss high in the 58th minute.

Koutsaftis missed wide right in the 64th minute as Denison struggled to try and find the equalizer, and then Prokos had to make a sprawling save in the 72nd minute to keep it at a one-goal margin.

The effort by Pokos, who made four saves in the second half, finally paid off when Denison's top-two playmakers on the offensive side made their presence felt in the 83rd minute. The first tally for Denison came as Kameron Kist played it behind the defense to Krueger, who was able to score from a tough angle on the right side of the goal to level it all up at one goal apiece.

Just 61 seconds later, a cross into the box by Krueger resulted in an own goal off the leg of a JCU defender as Denison shifted into a defensive mindset for the final six minutes to steal the win.

Both teams entered the matchup at 5-0-1 on the season, but it was Denison that picked up win number six.

"Tonight was another great college soccer game," said Head Coach Brandon Bianco. "They had some moments in the match that had us pinned back and we did the same. That's what two good teams do. I'm so proud of the group to find the moments we needed tonight. We'll enjoy this and get ready for the weekend."

The Big Red return to action on Saturday, September 23, when they travel to Cleveland, Ohio, for a 1 p.m. matchup at No. 25-ranked Case Western Reserve University.