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Kenyon College Athletics

3
Winner Ohio Northern ONU (14-4-5, 6-0-2)
2
Kenyon KEN (15-5-0, 7-1-0)
Winner
Ohio Northern ONU
(14-4-5, 6-0-2)
3
Final
2
Kenyon KEN
(15-5-0, 7-1-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ohio Northern ONU 3 0 3
Kenyon KEN 1 1 2
Jack Commandeur
Shawn Gamble

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Owls fall to Ohio Northern in NCAA Tournament

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- The Kenyon College men's soccer team fell to Ohio Northern University in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in Friday's opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

The Owls started out in dominant fashion with Luca Bilotto taking immediate control of the game, blazing past three defenders before firing the ball into the net from the top of the box for a 1-0 lead in the opening minute of the match. With the Owls in control, the game kicked off for the second time in thirty seconds. Fans would not have to wait long for the action to continue with Ohio Northern burying a ball into the net evening up the match in the 12th minute of action. With the Owls looking to regather, they were ambushed only seconds later as the Polar Bears found their second goal of the match to advance, 2-1.

With 77 minutes left to play in the match, Kenyon looked to Moustapha Gassama, who fired the next two Owl shots just off target. However, the Polar Bears were not done finding the net. Capitalizing on a Kenyon own goal in the 31st minute, Ohio Northern extended the lead to 3-1 after a pass across the middle went awry. The Owls went into the break after taking four shots, with only Bilotto's goal on target. 

The Owls came out ready for business in the second half and immediately pressured the attacking third to force chances. One of those chances would come in the 55th minute with Joey Nigro dancing with the ball before finding Emmett Brown. Brown converted on the opportunity into the left side of the net.

Kenyon and Ohio Northern fought for the next 35 minutes of the half. With under two minutes left, and a scramble for the ball in the box, Bilotto got a piece of it and did his best to convert. He was not, however, able to control the ball fully in a tight window and the Polar Bear keeper made the save. With another opportunity, Andrew Adams drilled a shot from the top of the 18, which was blocked by an Ohio Northern defender. The ball bounced into the box yet again with Bilotto taking one final shot. With the ball in the air, the Ohio Northern keeper made the save falling toward the net, but holding the ball just in front of the goal line as time expired.

The loss caps off a stellar season for the Owls with a 15th NCAC regular season championship, a 15-5 record, and a peak ranking of No. 8 in the country. 



 
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Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary
Scoring Team Scoring Play
00:31
KEN Luca Bilotto (9)
Assisted By: Lucas de Alarcon
GOAL by KEN Bilotto, Luca Assist by de Alarcon, Lucas.
11:07
ONU Colin Gottron (4)
Assisted By: Miles Armstrong
GOAL by ONU Gottron, Colin Assist by Armstrong, Miles.
12:11
ONU Miles Armstrong (11)
Assisted By: Sterling Segal
GOAL by ONU Armstrong, Miles Assist by Segal, Sterling.
31:18
ONU 0
GOAL by ONU TEAM.
55:19
KEN Emmett Brown (4)
Assisted By: Joey Nigro
GOAL by KEN Brown, Emmett Assist by Nigro, Joey.

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