Box Score
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University showed why they are No. 1 in the country when the Battling Bishops put forth a strong second half against Kenyon College in the North Coast Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament Championship, Saturday night. Coming out of the locker room tied at one, OWU scored twice within two minutes to roll to 3-1 win and an NCAC Championship.
The numbers show that both Kenyon, the second overall seed in the tournament, and top-seeded Ohio Wesleyan played to an even match. In the second half, Ohio Wesleyan made better use of its seven shots than did Kenyon. Tied 1-1 coming out of the half, the Bishops made their push for the lead just short of the 60th minute. Shortly after an OWU corner kick was thwarted, the ball bounced back out to the top corner of the box where Peter Jacobi laid into it and beat Kenyon goalkeeper Sam Clougher to the far side of the goal.
After a pair of substitutions, the Bishops went right back at it with additional pressure on the front line. The Bishops' leading scorer Colton Bloecher put his team up by two goals when he took possession at the top of the box and went one-on-one with Clougher. After the freshman keeper challenged and came out to play the ball, Bloecher tipped a pass over Clougher and to himself where he headed it into the cage for the goal.
Not more than two minutes after that, Ohio Wesleyan nearly added another goal when Bloecher was facing an open net and took another shot for what would have been his second goal of the game. However, junior Sam Justice streaked in from the far side and made a sliding stop, knocking the ball away before it crossed the goal line.
Kenyon equaled Ohio Wesleyan's shot output in the second half with seven attempts, but only one fell between the posts. The Bishops held steady on defense by forcing to Lords into odd-angle and rushed shots that flew off course.
Alistair Flynn served as Kenyon's bright spot when he tied the match in the 34th minute. The goal went unassisted as Flynn scooped up a loose ball and finished it off against OWU keeper Colin Beemiller. His goal was preceded by Ian O'Keefe's tally earlier in the first half when just short of five minutes into the game he connected with Jon Stegner on a through ball and blasted the game's first goal.
Though the conference championship went to Ohio Wesleyan, the Lords' season is still alive. Kenyon entered the week ranked fourth in the Great Lakes Region. Oberlin was ranked third, but with their loss to the Lords in the NCAC Semifinals, it is likely the Lords will be given an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Their destination and opponent will be determined on Monday.
