GAMBIER, Ohio – For the third time this postseason, the No. 9-ranked Kenyon College men's soccer team fell behind 1-0, but rallied to win. Sunday at Mavec Field was the latest instance, as the Lords converted an overtime penalty kick to defeat the University of Rochester Yellowjackets, 2-1, in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

With the win, Kenyon improved its record to 19-1-2 and advanced to the third round of the NCAA bracket for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. The win also moved the Lords' unbeaten streak to 20 games, tying a program record.

Sunday's game was evenly played and had an outcome that was decided on a handball late in the first overtime period. As Kenyon sophomore Luke Muther was driving toward goal from the right side, a Rochester defender attempted a slide tackle. Muther jumped over the tackle, leaving the ball in place. As the defender went down, he fell directly on top of the ball and could not avoid being whistled for a handball inside of the box.

Another Kenyon sophomore, Scott Upton, stepped up to take the penalty kick and delivered his eighth goal of the season, as well as his team-best fourth game-winner.


Prior to the overtime action, Rochester drew first blood in the game's 39th minute. A throw-in deep in Kenyon territory resulted in the ball bouncing around the Lords' box. Kenyon goalkeeper Ian McInturf ended up punching the ball away to his left, but it went right to Rochester's Zach Lawlor, who immediately fired a cross back into the box. That pass was met by Will Eisold, who headed it into the Kenyon net for his first goal of the season.

The Rochester lead held up for the next 37 minutes of play. It wasn't until the game's 76th minute that the Lords finally broke through. Aided by another handball from the Yellowjackets, the Kenyon men were awarded a free kick just inches outside of the Rochester box. Senior Max Taylor wound up taking the kick and drilled a left-footed shot right up the gut. It got through the Rochester wall, deflected off the heel of goalkeeper Hugh Curran and into the back of the net for Taylor's third score of the season.

Overall, Kenyon managed a 22-10 advantage in shots taken, but only four of those 22 shots were on goal. Three of Rochester's 10 shots were on target. Both McInturf and Curran finished off the game with two saves.

Kenyon's third-round match will be against Montclair State University, a team that used a penalty-kick shootout to upend Franklin and Marshall College in second-round play.