GRANVILLE, Ohio (Oct. 23) -- In a tightly contested North Coast Athletic Conference matchup, ninth-ranked Denison University fought to a 0-0 draw against the visiting DePauw Tigers on Wednesday night at Kienzle-Hylbert Stadium. The game featured contrasting styles, with DePauw's youthful, quick, and aggressive approach facing off against Denison's composed, strategic build-up play.
DePauw made their intentions clear from the start, nearly scoring in the first minute with a shot that grazed the post, giving the underclassmen-heavy Tigers a burst of confidence. They favored a game of speed, repeatedly sending long balls over Denison's back line in an attempt to catch the Big Red off guard. However, Denison's defense—anchored by Zarius Eusebe, Henri Heyes, Miles Crosser, and goalkeeper Tommy Prokos—remained steadfast, stopping multiple early attempts from the Tigers.
After weathering DePauw's initial surge, Denison settled into their rhythm, showing greater offensive movement. By the final whistle, the Big Red had accumulated 12 shots, five of which were on target. The best opportunity for Denison came in the 75th minute, when sophomore Tyler Weiss's shot, amidst a crowded 18-yard box, was slowed by a Tiger defender just enough for the DePauw keeper to scramble back and keep the ball from crossing the line. DePauw's defense, including one team save and four individual saves from their goalkeeper, held firm to keep the game scoreless. While Denison's height advantage allowed them to win numerous aerial duels, they couldn't find the back of the net.
Post-match, Denison head coach Brandon Bianco acknowledged the challenging contest: "Tonight was a tough game. DePauw did a really nice job and battled for 90 minutes. We needed to be better getting to second balls and trying to settle the game, but it will be something we can look at and improve."
The Tigers now stand at 2-1-2 in NCAC play, while the Big Red remains undefeated in conference competition at 5-0-1.
After having the weekend off from game competition, Denison continues NCAC play when they travel to face the Wooster Fighting Scots, currently 2-3 in the conference, on October 30th at 3:30 p.m.
