GAMBIER, Ohio -- The Kenyon College men's soccer team honored a stellar 2024 senior class on Saturday in Gambier as the Owls celebrated their Senior Day. Kenyon put itself in position to pick up an important North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) win with an early goal against Denison University, but the visiting Big Red bounced back with two goals to spoil the festivities and hand Kenyon a 2-1 defeat.

Victor Bravo III, Eamon Dujakovich, Alem Duratovic, Ben Hitt, Jacob Lazarus, Gerardo Martinez, Matt Nguyen, Jack Pedreschi, and Charlie Penzone make up the impressive Owls senior class. Thus far, Kenyon's nine-man class has combined to compile a stellar 58-11-6 record over their time in Gambier. The players propelled the program to three NCAC Championships in 2021, 2022, and 2023, running Kenyon's overall streak to eight straight conference crowns. Additionally, Kenyon and the now-seniors advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2023 while making it all the way to the Elite Eight in 2022. Along with their lofty career goals going forward, the 2024 class has set high standards for Owls men's soccer that will persevere on and off the pitch.

The NCAC clash held huge standings implications, both within the league and at the national level. The Owls entered the game ranked No. 2 in the country while the Big Red carried a No. 17 ranking, and winning the game would go a long way toward either team's NCAC Championship hopes. Kenyon was hoping for a bounceback win after falling to Ohio Wesleyan University on Wednesday, but the Owls fell to 7-2-3 overall and 1-2-0 in league play. On the other side, Denison improved to 8-1-3 overall and has won all three of their NCAC games. 

The Owls were the early aggressors, firing off four of the game's first five shots and adding a corner kick over the first 16 minutes. Martinez put a shot on goal off of the corner in the first minute, and the early activity paid off in the 16th minute.

First-year Gabriel Romanenko flipped the field with a deep pass from just outside of Kenyon's box, and the long ball got to Denison's goal before the Owls offense closed in. Kenyon's pressure forced the Big Red to play it back to their keeper, Tommy Prokos, who was waiting to clear it away. However, Bravo III blocked the ball from his midfield position, tapping it back to a waiting Duratovic. The senior forward needed just one quick touch to find a streaking teammate, Lawrence Taylor. The first-year took a moment to collect the ball and line up a look, and he fired a right-footed shot into the top-left of the net that put the Owls ahead 1-0. The score was Taylor's second of the season, and the assists by the senior battery were the season's second for both Bravo III and Duratovic.

Denison dished out the half's final four shots, but only one was on target for Pedreschi to save. The Owls nearly doubled their lead after four quick second-half shots, including three consecutive looks right on the doorstep, two of which were blocked and one dangerous, lofted ball from Martinez that was saved.

Shortly after stopping Kenyon's attack, Denison broke through in the 56th minute after corralling a clear in front of Kenyon's goal. Jake Krueger came up with the loose ball on the right side of the box, and he tied the game with a shot that sailed across the front of the net and nestled into the back left corner.

After tying the game at 1-1 with his season's 10th goal, Krueger added an assist on what proved to be the game-winner. A Denison yellow card set the Owls up with a free kick deep in Big Red territory, but the opportunity turned into adversity as Denison won the ball back and mounted a counterattack. Krueger drove up the left side of the field and passed to Phil Koutsaftis, who snuck a shot past Pedreschi to put the visitors on top 2-1 in the 63rd minute.

Kenyon kept its foot on the gas and fired off the game's next four shots. Taylor and fellow first-year Ethan Castaneda had the best chances at equalizers with shots on goal in the 68th and 69th minutes, respectively, but the Big Red held on to clinch the comeback.

Up next, Kenyon returns to Mavec Field on Tuesday, October 15 to take on The College of Wooster at 3:30 p.m.