Tiger soccer defeats Denison, secures NCAC tourney berth
Trailing Denison by just two points in the North Coast Athletic Conference standings, the goal was simple for the DePauw men's soccer team: Win and advance to NCAC postseason play.
The Tigers did just that, knocking off the Big Red by a final score of 3-2.
With the win, DePauw improved to 10-7-1 on the year and 5-3-1 in the NCAC, while Denison finished their season with an 8-8-1 overall record and a 5-4 mark in the NCAC.
The Tigers secured the fourth seed in the NCAC postseason tournament and will play at Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
After a scoreless first half, DePauw pounced early in the second stanza, scoring two goals in the opening four minutes. With 48:29 on the clock, Adrian Ables took a corner kick and found the foot of Julian Gonzalez who put the Tigers in front. Just 26 seconds later it was Gonzalez's crossing pass that found the head of Mitch Tabler, extending the lead to 2-0.
In the 63rd minute DePauw's Andy Morrison broke free and fired a shot on goal. Denison's Blake Schach made a great save, but it deflected straight back to Morrison and this time he blasted it to the back of the net.
Trailing 3-0, the Big Red did not go away silently, as they scored a goal in the 74th minute when Jake Girardot's shot deflected off the crossbar and into the net.
Mark Waterman converted on a penalty kick in the 84th minute to draw Denison to within one.
DePauw dominated possession over the final six minutes to secure the victory and a spot in the NCAC postseason tournament.
The Tigers outshot Denison by a 14-13 mark, while the Big Red attempted 10 corner kicks to DePauw's five. Jake Pezzuto made five saves in goal for the Tigers, while Schach grabbed three in defeat.