HIRAM, Ohio – Sam Carson and the Kenyon College Lords soccer team broke through late in the second half to earn a 2-0 North Coast Athletic Conference victory at Hiram College on Saturday night at Charles H. Henry Field.
 
With Ohio Wesleyan University's loss to Wabash College earlier in the day, the 14th-ranked Lords (13-1-2, 5-0-2 NCAC) moved into sole possession of first place with two games remaining in the regular season.
 
Up until those final minutes, the Lords had multiple offensive chances but hit a stretch of tough luck.
 
First-half play saw Kenyon shoot nine times, not give up any to the hosts, and tally seven corners. Within the first six minutes, Sebatian Gaese and Max Taylor each had solid header attempts but neither found the back of the net.  In the 12th minute, the Lords nearly struck again. An initial shot from Aidan Schoellkopf fired right side was saved by CJ Keith. However, the ball trickled away near the right-post goal mouth where Keith had to dive on it from crossing.
 
Then with 11 minutes left in the half, Max Ohnesorge hit a hard ball from the left side of the box but once again, Keith was there.
 
The story did not change in the second half for the Lords until the 81:11 mark. Gaese flicked a pass to a streaking Carson along the left side. The sophomore dribbled and then curved a right-footed shot into the right post.
 
A little over five minutes later, a counter was executed well as Carson passed to Tomas Munoz Reyes whose left-footed shot found the left corner.
 
By game's end, Kenyon held a 19-2 shots advantage and 13-2 lead in corners. It was the eighth straight series win, as well, for the Purple and White.
 
The Lords will return to the pitch on October 30 when they host Oberlin College (7-9, 4-3 NCAC) at 3:30 p.m.