Domination has been a continuing theme for the Blue Streaks this season. 

On a chilly Saturday night, John Carroll University dominated once again in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Championship defeating Otterbein, 1-0, to become back-to-back OAC tournament champions for the first time in program history. 

With the win, the Blue Streaks receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament. 
 
"I'm so proud of the boys. They gave us everything we asked for this year," head coach Hector Marinaro said. "The commitment to play defense … as a coach you can't ask for much more."

After a back and forth start, freshman Mario Aboumitri put the ball in the lower left corner of the net 13 minutes into the game off of a cross from Larry Cersosimo. Aboumitri's score was the lone goal of the night for either team.

"I saw Larry [Cersosimo] coming down the sideline," Aboumitri said with his OAC Tournament championship t-shirt on. "I just tracked the ball down, he laid it off, and I had to finish it."

Aboumitri has had the game winning goal for the Blue Streaks in each of the last two games. 

"Just learning the game and how players play off of each other," Aboumitri said of his development. "Throughout the season, I am just trying to learn how players play off each other. I have started to get my rhythm now and the goals started going through."

Both teams had numerous opportunities in the remainder of the first half but neither team could find the back of the net. John Carroll led with 10 shots, two of which came on goal. 

In the second half a big opportunity came for the Blue Streaks when Jared Mattei had a one on one shot opportunity against an Otterbein defender but it was deflected before it could reach the goal. 

As time wound down, the Blue and Gold relied on their stout defense, as both teams traded shots but none broke the seal. Otterbein had four shots, none of which came on goal. Connor Robinson recorded his tenth shutout on the season, including his fifth straight shutout.

"My year has been really easy because I have the best defense in the OAC in front of me," Robinson said grinning from ear-to-ear. "My dream came true. It was a great win -- a nailbiter."

Marinaro recorded his fourth career OAC Tournament Championship during his time at John Carroll.

"It is not easy," he said. "You have to perform really well during nine games in the regular season and then you have to do everything you can in the playoffs to keep going. If we keep pitching shutouts, we are going to keep putting ourselves in great positions to win games."

Following their 19th championship appearance, the Blue Streaks hold the record for most OAC tournament titles with eight.

The Blue Streaks also had four players named to the OAC All Tournament Team which included Will Turritin, Jared Ianiro, Chase Fernkorn, and Matt Nigro. 

After the tournament win, John Carroll improved their record to 17-2-2 on the season and 9-0-1 in conference play. 

Tonight's victory gives the Blue and Gold one of the 42 automatic bids into the NCAA Division III Tournament. JCU will learn their opponent in the selection show on Monday, November 11. 

2019 OACX Men's All-Tournament Team
Brandon Woo, Capital
Levi King, Ohio Northern
Luke Maher, Marietta
Sebastian Ziaja, Marietta
Ty Cooper, Mount Union
Brian Belz, Mount Union
Kennedy Mensah, Otterbein
Nathan Neal, Otterbein
Seth Smith, Otterbein
William Turrittin, John Carroll
Jared Ianiro, John Carroll
Chase Fernkorn, John Carroll
Matt Nigro, John Carroll