GAMBIER, Ohio (Oct. 12) -- The 17th ranked Denison University men's soccer team scored twice in the second half to secure a significant road victory, taking down No. 2 Kenyon by a 2-1 score on their home field in Gambier.
Despite trailing by a goal at halftime, the Big Red rallied in the second half with a pair of crucial goals to remain perfect in North Coast Athletic Conference play.
Kenyon struck first in the 15th minute, capitalizing on a quick counterattack following a Denison goal kick. This solo effort momentarily gave the Owls the upper hand, as they aimed to recover from their previous 3-0 loss to Ohio Wesleyan, which snapped a remarkable 56-0-4 NCAC regular season unbeaten streak dating back to 2016.
Undeterred, Denison responded with grit and determination in the second half. The Big Red's first goal came from a long through ball from Kaden Kist that sailed toward the left corner flag. A cross from Cameron McIntosh was deflected by a Kenyon defender, and Corey Brunner pounced on the loose ball, getting a touch off his chest. Jake Krueger swiftly took control, taking one touch across the goal and firing a right-footed shot past the Owls' goalkeeper to level the score. The goal was Krueger's 10th of the season.
Denison's second goal came from a well executed counterattack. Two Big Red defenders dispossessed a Kenyon attacker deep in their own half, and Krueger burst forward on a sprint down the left flank. Krueger received the pass off the perfectly timed run and found himself in a two-on-one situation with Phil Koutsaftis. Krueger slipped the ball to Koutsaftis, who hesitated just enough to throw off the Kenyon goalkeeper before slotting home the eventual game-winner.
After the match, Denison head coach Brandon Bianco reflected on the team's performance, saying, "Today was an awesome college soccer match. Kenyon is a really good team. While some moments weren't as clean as we would like, I loved our competitive character today. We dug in deep when we needed to and made the plays to win the game. I'm really proud of this group."
This win marks Denison's first regular-season victory at Kenyon since 2011, lifting them to 3-0 in NCAC play. Both teams had a tightly contested match, with Denison producing six shots on frame from 10 total attempts, while Kenyon managed five on frame from 13 total shots. The physical battle also saw 30 fouls between the two sides, reflecting the intensity of the contest.
Denison will look to keep their conference winning streak alive as they continue their road campaign, taking on Wabash College on Tuesday, October 15th at 4 p.m.
