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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
2021 OAC Champs MSOC
The Blue Streaks won on an OT goal by Benjamin Hryszko. 
0
Otterbein OTT (14-1-4, 8-0-2)
1
Winner John Carroll JCU (12-3-4, 8-0-2)
Otterbein OTT
(14-1-4, 8-0-2)
0
Final
1
John Carroll JCU
(12-3-4, 8-0-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Otterbein OTT 0 0 0 0
John Carroll JCU 0 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Drezdan Dale, Staff Writer

Men's Soccer Captures 4th Straight OAC Championship with OT Win over Otterbein

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Big time players make big time plays. 

Benjamin Hryszko struck once again for John Carroll University, making another big time play as one of the Blue Streaks' best players.

Hryszko has been clutch all season for JCU with three game winning goals in the regular season, none larger than tonight in which he recorded his fourth. 

A minute and twenty seconds into the first overtime of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Championship vs. Otterbein, Nicholas Graeca found Hryszko for the game winning goal, helping the Blue Streaks earn their fourth straight OAC Tournament Crown in epic fashion. 

"As soon as I saw that ball from Graeca," Hryszko said. "I just went after it and attacked the ball and put a good header on it and scored the game winning goal."

The first half was a period of close but not close enough for the Blue Streaks.

Starting off in the fifth minute, Izac Coleman received a great pass and was able to rattle off a shot but missed to the right of goal.

In the 26th minute, JCU had a corner kick opportunity that William Turrittin booted in front of goal; however, no player was able to get a great angle on it and possession was gained by Otterbein, killing the chance for the Blue Streaks.

Turrittin set up Jack Foht in the 39th minute for a shot on a pass off a header, but an Otterbein defender was able to get in front of the ball to block the shot. James Hoover corralled the ball and shot from outside the box, but was off the mark, missing high and to the right. 

With their final opportunity of the half in the 44th minute, John Carroll's Justin LaFountain shot a header off a feed from Max Hess, which was easily caught by Cardinal's goalkeeper Austin McIlvoy to keep the score at 0-0 heading into halftime.

To start off the second half, JCU's Coleman had two shots, which were both saved by Mcllvoy.

Shortly after, in the 59th minute, LaFountain was assessed a yellow card after a hard slide tackle. 

Neither team's offenses were able to do much, as each team's defenses stepped up for the rest of the second period. 

The Blue Streaks were able to attempt a few chances in the final few minutes of the period to no avail as a lob pass into the box was intercepted by McIlvoy to win back possession for Otterbein.

In the final two minutes, LaFountain missed two shots, one just inches over the top of the net and another inches to the right, leading to overtime. During the extra time, Hryszko won the day for JCU. 

After the game, first-year Head Coach Dejan Mladenovic '06 was very emotional for two reasons. 

"My emotion comes from two things," Mladenovic said. "The first is that I am so proud of this group, committing to the plan, believing in it and trusting each other. The second is thinking about my great friend Chris Wenzler. The men's soccer program dedicated the entire calendar year to him, and we were able to bring him four trophies in his honor. Wearing the arm bands with his initials on it means more to me than I could ever put in a quote.  I miss him so much but I know he was here with us tonight in spirit."

Mladenovic was making reference to the legendary former Sports Information Director Chris Wenzler '90, who dedicated his entire life to the university as he held the position for thirty years. Wenzler passed away in June 2020, and the men's soccer team has dedicated their play to him.

John Carroll goalkeeper Connor Robinson pitched his fourth shutout in his past five matches, saving two shots along the way.

The NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament Selection Show is on Monday, November 8 at 1:30 pm and will be streamed on the NCAA website.
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