GRANVILLE, Ohio (Nov. 10) – The Denison University men's soccer team finished as the 2024 North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament as runner-up after falling 4-1 in penalty kicks following a 1-1 double overtime draw with fourth-seeded DePauw University in Sunday's title game at Kienzle-Hylbert Stadium.
"Congratulations to DePauw on a deserved conference tournament title," said Denison head coach
Brandon Bianco. "I'm proud of our group and hoped for a better outcome in the end, but I know we'll regroup and get ready for NCAA's."
Denison, who claimed a share of this year's regular season title, will await word on an NCAA berth. The Big Red hold a 12-1-6 overall record. The NCAA will announce selections on Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
DePauw, as tournament winner, receives the NCAC's automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Tigers will enter NCAAs with a 10-4-6 overall record. This marks DePauw's third NCAC tournament title.
The Big Red took a first half lead when junior
Henri Heyes found himself in the right spot at the right time to head a rebound into the back of the net. The ball found Heyes after the DePauw goalkeeper initially saved a shot by DU senior
Cameron McIntosh that also glanced off the crossbar. The goal was the third of the season for Heyes. McIntire was credited with an assist on the score.
Denison was able to carry that 1-0 lead into halftime. The Big Red controlled pace of play during the first half, as they outshot the Tigers by an 8-1 margin.
Things went awry for Denison early in the second half. The Tigers evened up the score at 1-1 after an own goal by the Big Red. An initial shot by Braden Murphey hit the crossbar and was played into the net when the Denison defender could not clear the ball successfully. That own goal came just 26 seconds into the second half.
DePauw out-shot Denison by a 6-3 margin in the second half, including a 3-1 margin on goal.
Perhaps Denison's best chance to regain the lead came in the 75th minute when sophomore
Eli Taylor hit the right post from close range.
The Tigers went on to put a shot on goal in the waning seconds but were turned away when Denison senior goalkeeper
Tommy Prokos made the save with 16 seconds left.
Denison collected five shots to just two for DePauw during the two 10-minute overtime sessions. Neither team was able to secure the victory via golden goal and the match went to penalty kicks to decide the 2024 NCAC Tournament Champion.
The penalty kick session belonged to DePauw. The Tigers converted all four attempts to secure the NCAA bid. Denison was successful on just one of three attempts in the penalty kicks, as Heyes converted his try. Sebastian Leon sealed things for the Tigers with his make.
For the game, Denison put together a 16-9 advantage in shots and a 6-3 margin in shots on goal. Both teams gained six corner kick attempts during the 110 minutes of action.
McIntosh led Denison by matching the game high with four shots.
Prokos, Heyes and
Justin Crow earned spots on the All-Tournament Team following the event.
2024 NCAC Men's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Sam Ortner (Most Valuable Player), DePauw
Alec McCarty, DePauw
Ethan Webster, DePauw
Harrison Engel, DePauw
Julian Bell, DePauw
Tommy Prokos, Denison
Henri Heyes, Denison
Justin Crow, Denison
Eamon Dujakovic, Kenyon
Victor Bravo, Kenyon
Sam Whitman, Ohio Wesleyan
Franklin Rodriguez, Ohio Wesleyan
