GAMBIER, Ohio – Kenyon College won its fifth North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament title in the last six seasons on Saturday as the Lords rallied for a 2-1 win over rival Ohio Wesleyan University at Mavec Field.
The victory for Kenyon (17-1-2) secures it the NCAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament which is set to begin next weekend.
On a brisk, 35-degree weather day, a dominant second half paved the way for the program's fifth tournament title.
In the first half, though, Ohio Wesleyan's defense helped it attain a 1-0 lead. Kenyon, which came into the match averaging the tenth-best shots-per-game average in the NCAA (20.6), was held to four. And only two of those – shots from
Sam Carson and
Atli Hrafnkelsson - came close. The Bishops seized on that pressure with a goal of their own in the 24th minute.
After a misplay by the Lords' back line, Hector Gomez retrieved the turned over ball, raced down the left sideline and passed to Brady Whittekind, the team's leading scoring. Whittekind fired from the right side into the left corner.
That 1-0 score remained until the second half when the Lords turned up their game.
Through the first 12 minutes of the second stanza, Kenyon occupied OWU territory. Then at the 57th minute, the Lords tied things up. Freshman
Chayne Bruneau passed from around midfield to a streaking
Sam Carson. The sophomore speedster then shot from the left side of the 18 into the right corner sending the Kenyon faithful into a frenzy.
Sixteen minutes later, Kenyon secured the lead. After OWU defender Ryan Huelsman deflected a ball off Hrafnkelsson, the loose possession was picked up by the Lords' leading scorer and he shot from right to left corner. For Ohio Wesleyan, it was the first time all season it allowed two goals in a contest.
Over the remainder of the match, the Lords' defense was outstanding, limiting the visitors to just one shot. By game's end, Kenyon had out-shot the Bishops 12-6. During the trophy presentation afterwards,
Scott Upton, Carson, Hrafnkelsson,
John Penas and Bruneau (MVP) were named to the All-Tournament team.
Stay tuned to the home page for more info on Kenyon's NCAA Tournament appearance, its 16th overall and seventh straight.
