GAMBIER, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University keeper J.P. Baughman came up with a few saves as the Battling Bishops claimed the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament title in a penalty kick shootout against No. 9 Kenyon College at Mavec Field on Saturday. OWU converted three penalty kicks while Baughman stopped three Lords shots to help the visitors claim its first tourney title since 2013.
 
Leading up to the PK shootout, the Lords (15-2-3) had their chances to get the win, especially in the first overtime session, but Ohio Wesleyan fended off the top-seeded team on several occasions.
 
In the first half, neither team really gained any traction offensively as there were a combined 10 shots.
 
Kenyon came back in the next stanza and dominated possession. Between the 59th and 62nd minutes, Brice Koval, David Anderson and Woo Jeon all had attempts that were outside either posts. Then, with less than five minutes left, junior Greg McNeer's massive boot no more than seven yards inside the midfield line, sailed just right of the goal in what would have been a highlight-reel goal.
 
For OWU, its two best looks came from Jack Shadoan at 62:48 and Brady Whittekind in the 69th minute. Shadoan's attempt went above the crossbar while Ian McInturf denied the other.
 
After the first 90 minutes, the two teams went into overtime and the Lords nearly won.
 
Koval drove down the left side, cut into the box and fired near the top portion of the net. Keeper Mike Heeschen, though, denied his attempt on a leaping save. The Lords had some other opportunities – they attempted five corner kicks in the first extra session alone – with the ball bouncing in the box, but nothing came through.
 
The second overtime yielded nothing for either team forcing the penalty kick shootout.
 
McInturf denied OWU's first two attempts while Oliver Wynn, Kenyon's second player to shoot, tallied a goal putting the Lords up 1-0. Ohio Wesleyan defender Joe Brush walked in next to the box but his shot hit the crossbar. The Lords had a chance to go up 2-0 after that but Baughman, who came in to defend the goal for OWU in the shootout, stopped McNeer's kick. After that, the Lords missed two of their next three attempts while Will Sharer, Charles Branche III and Shadoan scored for the visitors. Kenyon's last attempt to tie the shootout at 3-3 went left of the post on a shot from Collyn Carpenter.

After the contest, Bret Lowry, Alberto Carmona and Koval were named to the all-tourney team while Baughman earned MVP honors. 
 
With the advancement in PKs, the Battling Bishops (12-6-2) clinched their NCAA-record 40th appearance in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. On the other side, Kenyon hopes to receive an at-large bid for the NCAA's postseason championship. The selection show is scheduled for November 6 at 1:30 p.m. (est).