GAMBIER, Ohio -- The Kenyon College men's soccer team added at least one more game to its 2024 slate by advancing to the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, the program's 10th 'Sweet 16' berth. The Owls are hoping to bring their momentum with them as the team takes on its first NCAA Tournament game away from Mavec Field since 2021.
Kenyon will face off against Connecticut College at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The University of Mary Washington, ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches national poll, will host the tournament sectionals, which also feature a familiar Owls foe, the Denison University Big Red. The No. 10-ranked Big Red will battle the hosting Eagles before Kenyon's game, with Saturday's two winners slated to match up at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 24.
Saturday's game marks the second time in the last three seasons the Owls have advanced to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Before last season's run ended in round two due to penalty kicks, the Owls made it to the 'Elite Eight' in 2022, playing all four of their games at home in Gambier. Including this year, Kenyon has reached the 'Sweet 16' eight times over the program's last 11 NCAA Tournaments, a stretch dating back to 2013.
Kenyon, ranked No. 14 in the national standings, is coming off of one of the most exciting wins in recent memory. After winning 1-0 against Spalding University in round one, the Owls faced a 2-1 deficit through 88 minutes of action against Hamilton College. However, the home team had begun to build momentum thanks in part to the dramatic return of Alem Duratovic, the team's leading scorer who hadn't played in more than a month. The senior subbed and showed off his scoring prowess, firing a shot into the bottom right corner of the net that tied the game in the 89th minute. The score stayed tied through regulation and 20 scoreless minutes of overtime, sending the game to penalty kicks, where the Owls outscored the Continentals 4-3 after goalkeeper Owen Boukalik stepped in off the bench and stepped up with two stupendous saves.
The Owls, who have posted a 13-3-4 record thus far, head into their matchup against the Camels averaging twice as many goals as their opponents. Kenyon has scored 40 goals over 20 games, a per-game average of 2.00, while allowing one goal per game, 20 total. Kenyon has outshot opponents by six shots per game, 14.4-8.4, and the Owls have benefitted from strong team play with 38 assists, compared to just 13 opponent helpers. Kenyon also sets up more chances at set pieces, compiling 110 corner kicks while holding opponents to 66. Defensively, the Owls have posted a .706 save percentage and eight shutouts.
Individually, Duratovic paces the Owls with 20 points and nine goals. Fellow seniors Eamon Dujakovich and Jacob Lazaruz have scored five goals apiece, while senior Gerardo Martinez leads the team with six assists. Defensively, senior Matt Nguyen leads the way with 1,741 minutes, while senior goalkeeper Jack Pedreschi has secured 46 saves and has all but one of Kenyon's decisions.
On the other side, Connecticut College (12-2-6) enters the weekend on a four-game winning streak. The Camels, who are receiving votes in the national poll, clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament by winning the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament. While hosting the first two rounds, the Camels won 4-1 against Suffolk University before ousting No. 19 Franklin and Marshall College 3-0 to secure the program's fourth 'Sweet 16' spot over the last five tournaments.
The Camels average 2.05 goals per game while allowing just 0.60 goals per game, a 41-12 margin. The team also outshoots opponents 15.1-10.1 and has taken 10 more corner kicks, 86-76. Defensively, their 0.59 goals against average ranks 13th in the nation, and their .859 save percentage ranks eighth. Senior Matt Scoffone's 20 points and 10 goals lead the Camels, while sophomore Marco Perugini is close behind with 16 points on a team-leading eight assists and four goals.
The other side of the bracket features two more of the nation's top teams. Mary Washington holds the No. 1 ranking for a reason as the Eagles have posted a 19-1-2 record that includes a Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (CCAC) Tournament Championship. Denison, who ended Kenyon's North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament run a couple of weeks ago, has compiled a 14-1-6 mark and advanced to the 'Sweet 16' for the first time since 1979.
Mary Washington has outscored opponents 59-21, a per-game advantage of 2.68-0.95, while posting a .747 save percentage as a squad. Carter Berg and Sammy Amorose lead the way offensively, with Berg pacing the team in both goals (14) and assists (9), while Amorose has added 13 goals and seven helpers. Senior keeper Freddy Rogers has made 60 saves, allows 0.84 goals per game, and saves at a .769 clip.
Denison is tied for ninth nationally with a plus-40 goal differential, outscoring the opposition 50-10. The Big Red's .471 goals against average is fourth in the country, and their defense ranks just behind Connecticut College with a .853 save percentage. Senior Jake Krueger leads the offense with 35 points, 14 goals, and seven assists. Senior Tommy Prokos leads Denison goalkeepers with 50 saves and has posted a 0.52 goals against average and a .833 save percentage.
Tickets to the games at UMW can be purchased in person at the front entrance to the arena. Tickets are all-session tickets, so fans can watch both games on Saturday with one purchase before coming back on Sunday. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, veterans, students (with ID), and children ages 2-12. Children under the age of two will be admitted free of charge.
