Box Score

Marietta MAR (7-3-1, 5-2-1)

John Carroll JCU (10-0-0, 8-0-0)

Marietta MAR

(7-3-1, 5-2-1)

Final

Apr. 18, 2021

John Carroll JCU

(10-0-0, 8-0-0)

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Marietta MAR	0	0	0
John Carroll JCU	0	1	1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | 4/18/2021 6:30:00 PM | By: Kyle Kelly, Senior Staff Writer

Three-Peat! Men's Soccer Secures Undefeated Season with Win over Marietta

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OHIO -- They did it again.

During a pandemic, the first-ever spring season and in a year full of adversity John Carroll University Men's Soccer secured their third consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament trophy and ninth in school history with a 1-0 victory over Marietta at Don Shula Stadium on Sunday, April 18.

For the first time in program history, the Blue Streaks secured an undefeated 10-0 season. John Carroll has also captured three consecutive OAC regular season championships.

"It's been a long three months," said Head Coach Hector Marinaro, following his fifth career OAC Championship trophy. "We had to remain diligent and cautious in order to play this season. They responded great. We were dedicating this season to Chris Wenzler and his memory. The guys really buckled down and did what needed to be done to get us to this point today.

"All of the credit to the players. They dug deep all season long. We started practicing in January outside. 10-0 is something to be very proud of."

The Blue Streaks wore black "CW" armbands on their left arm (closest to their hearts) in remembrance of Wenzler throughout the 2021 campaign. In his 30 years as Sports Information Director, Wenzler covered 260 Men's Soccer games and JCU went 195-47-18 during his time as SID.

"Our coaches always asked us, 'Why are we doing this? What's our why?' This is the exact reason we come out here every single day," team captain William Turrittin said, pointing to the "CW" armband. "We all battled day-in and day-out. We fought for each other. It's hard to describe what everyone sacrificed this season.

"Without Wenzler, I am not sure we would have gotten it done. I know he's watching over us so happy for us."

After a scoreless first half, the Blue and Gold flipped the switch with an intense offensive effort. With the help of Turrittin, three minutes into the second half the Blue Streaks broke the silence and scored the goal eventually won the game. It was the freshman Hayden Haffner, who hauled in the touch pass from Turrittin, and buried it in the back left corner of the twine for his first career goal.

"Hector told me the game before, to get into the box," Haffner said. "I got in there, ahead of the defender, took a touch, kicked it towards the goal; it took a little deflection and went into the goal. Words can't describe how I felt after that."

Haffner celebrated with a fist pump and leaping into the arms of the JCU bench after scoring.

"It was awesome. We worked all season for this," he said. "We started off strong, 9-0. We just had to get the job done to finish it off 10-0. It feels awesome."

Turrittin recorded his third assist of the season and the 37th of his career. He also had the assist on Mario Abou-mitri's game-winning goal against Marietta in the semifinal of last year's game.

"I talked to Hector at halftime. In my opinion, I wasn't cutting it," Turrittin said. "But big-time players step up in big-time games. Hector told me it was my time. I made sure I got on the ball as much as I possibly could that second half to take over that game.

"Hayden has been grinding all year. I see the work that he has been putting in. I saw him backside. Luckily, I found the sweet spot off the foot. Hayden buried it and the rest is history."

For the rest of the second half, the John Carroll defense also took over the game. Marietta's best shot came 1:40 into the game but Robinson rejected it and kept the game scoreless for the next 46 minutes. The Pioneers' only other shot on goal came in the 66th minute. Marietta fired off five shots in total but only two in the final 45 minutes. Robinson recorded his sixth shutout of the season and ninth of his career.

"Defensively, this whole year has been absolutely incredible. With all of the makeshift going on — Stephen Schutt has been a winger, a right-back, left-back and now he is a center-back. We started three freshmen in the defense," Turrittin said. "You can't describe some of this stuff. So much credit goes to them. They make our job so much easier. We have no pressure, and they are on the ball the entire time. They're our security blanket.

"Robinson is a vocal influence around this team. He riles us all up. He's a great energy boost and a quality guy overall."

The first 45 minutes of the match were dominated by defensive play. Haffner's goal sparked a slew of seven shots in the second half by the Blue and Gold. The remaining shots directed towards the Marietta goal were rejected by freshman goalkeeper Ryan Riccillo. In the first half, John Carroll had three shots but none of them came on goal.

With the win, the Blue Streaks remain an undefeated 22-0-1 against the Pioneers at Don Shula Stadium. John Carroll has not lost to Marietta since 2009.

"Quite honestly, Joe Bergin has done a tremendous job at Marietta. They were pretty much at the bottom of the conference when he came in. He's turned the entire program around," Marinaro said. "He keeps getting better-and-better players. He's a great coach. They're difficult to break down today. They were playing without a bunch of seniors due to COVID. They gave us a heck of a game."

The entire John Carroll senior class of Michael Adelman, Max Hess, William Grubbs, Benjamin Hryszko, Jared Ianiro, Schutt and Turrittin will all return for a fifth season in the fall. All collegiate athletes were granted an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"They're our leaders — on the field, off the field, emotionally, spiritually, they lead this team," Marinaro said. "They've done a great job all year-long. I felt they weren't taking control of the game, but they come out in the second half with the right attitude. We got a good goal. Killed the game by possessing the ball. I am really proud of this senior class. It will be something they will remember forever. Hopefully, in the fall we can go at it again."

2021 OAC All-Tournament Team

Stephen Schutt, JCU
Benjamin Hryszko, JCU
Will Turrittin, JCU
Connor Robinson, JCU
Ryan Riccillo, MAR
Caden Furguson, MAR
Dave Beattie, MAR
Ian Molfenter, WC
Zach Burgmeier, WC
Caiman Moore, ONU
Bryan Kern, ONU
Jack Francisco, CAP
Austin Overy, MTU

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