FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Nov. 24) – The 10th ranked Denison University men's soccer team came up one victory short of reaching its first Final Four in program history. The Big Red suffered a 2-1 defeat to Connecticut College in NCAA Division III Quarterfinals action Sunday at the Battleground Athletic Complex in Fredericksburg, Va.
 
After earning a dramatic 1-0 victory in the third round Saturday, the Big Red entered Sunday as one of final eight teams competing among the 407 Division III men's soccer programs. Denison was in the NCAA Quarterfinals for just the second time in program history and first time since the 1979 season. The Big Red finish the 2024 slate with a 13-2-6 overall record.
 
With the result, the Camels eliminate the Big Red from the NCAA Tournament for a second-straight season. Connecticut College defeated Denison by a 3-1 score in the first round of the 2023 tournament. The Camels, the 2021 NCAA Champions, advance to the NCAA Final Four, which will be held in Las Vegas on Dec. 5-7. Connecticut College will enter the semifinals with an 11-2-6 overall record.

"Congratulations to Connecticut College on advancing to the semifinals of our national tournament," said Denison head coach Brandon Bianco. "Our team played their hearts out today as they have all year and I couldn't be prouder of this group. While I'm heartbroken this chapter has come to a close for this group, I know our young men will forever be connected by this shared experience. This team has left an incredible legacy and I couldn't be more grateful for the support of so many that makes this possible."
 
Denison leaned on a fast start to gain some early scoring opportunities. The Big Red put the first shot on goal in the sixth minute when Jake Krueger put a shot on target from close range that the Camels' keeper was able to turn away by getting his foot in the way of the shot which deflected high over the net. 
 
Just a few minutes later, Denison was able to gain another scoring chance when Kameron Kist broke loose off a counterattack. The lead pass put Kist in good position but a sliding challenge by the Camels' keeper denied the Big Red the chance at an early score. 
 
Connecticut College registered its first few shot attempts a few minutes later. Attempts in the 10th and 11th minutes both went high of the net. 
 
The persistent early pressure finally paid off for Denison in the 14th minute of action. Denison gained consecutive corner kick opportunities and made the second of which pay off. 
 
Kameron Kist sent a perfectly booted ball to the back post, which found Henri Heyes who was able to head the ball back across the box, off the post and into the net to give the Big Red the early advantage. The goal was the fourth of the season for Heyes. 
 
However, the Denison goal seemed to spark urgency from the Camels. Connecticut College recorded the next two corner kicks and the next two shots. Prokos made a save in the 20th minute off a shot attempt on a free kick.
 
Following another Heyes header on frame, the Camels found the equalizer off a quick counterattack in the 30th minute. A lead pass from Alessandro Horvath Diano found Elliot Spatz, who found some space and buried a shot into the upper corner of the net to even the score at 1-1. 
 
Just six minutes later, Connecticut College took its first lead of the day. Spatz was the beneficiary of a pair of quick aerial passes in the box from Diano and Jack Lavorel. The second goal of the day for Spatz made it 2-1 Camels in the 36th minute. Denison was able to get a shot in the 40th minute, a header by Zarius Eusebe, which was wide right of the net. The Camels took the 2-1 advantage into halftime. That meant the Big Red faced its first deficit of the NCAA Tournament and its first halftime deficit since Oct. 12. 
 
The Camels held an 8-5 shot advantage at the break. Denison had a 4-3 advantage in corner kick chances through the first 45 minutes. 
 
In the early stages of the second half, Krueger had a chance from close range. Krueger sent the ball through the box, which was unable to reach the frame or connect with a teammate for the equalizer. The Camels then pushed for an insurance goal and recorded four shots over the next three-plus minutes.
 
Nearly 15 minutes later, Denison made a push for a potential game-tying goal. The Big Red were turned away three times by Camels' keeper Peter Silvester. Corey Brunner recorded two of the three shots. 
 
Tommy Prokos kept Denison within striking distance with consecutive saves in the 77th and 78th minute. The Big Red were unable to put together much of a chance down the stretch until the waning seconds when a last second chance was blocked away. 
 
Conn College out-shot Denison by a 19-9 margin. The Camels put together a slim 9-8 advantage in shots on goal. Denison had a 5-4 margin in corner kicks. 
 
Prokos made six saves in his final showing as a member of the Big Red. A trio of Big Red members, led by Heyes, had a pair of shots in the loss.