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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
MSOC Celly OAC Semi 21
Owen Gerba
John Carroll advances to the OAC Tournament Championship for the fourth straight season. 
1
Capital CAP (10-8-1, 4-4-1)
4
Winner John Carroll JCU (11-3-4, 7-0-2)
Capital CAP
(10-8-1, 4-4-1)
1
Final
4
John Carroll JCU
(11-3-4, 7-0-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Capital CAP 1 0 1
John Carroll JCU 1 3 4

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Garrett Siegel, Senior Staff Writer

Men's Soccer Revs Up Offense to Defeat Capital in OAC Semifinal

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- John Carroll University Men's Soccer has advanced to their fourth straight Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Championship game.

The Blue Streaks earned a 4-1 win over Capital on Thursday at Don Shula Stadium. The Blue Streaks went down early, but responded with four unanswered goals, two by freshman Jack Foht. 

With the victory, John Carroll will now prepare for the OAC Championship match on Saturday at 7 pm vs. Otterbein at Shula Stadium. 

"I'm proud of their efforts from day one of the preseason up until now," said first-year Head Coach Dejan Mladenovic '06. "We knew we had to respect the process and do things the right way. I'm proud of the effort. No matter the score, no matter the opponent, no matter the place, they come out and do their best. Tonight we were fortunate enough to get a victory to put us into the final."

The first ten minutes went without a shot as the team traded possessions. The Blue Streaks owned most of the time of possession but could not get enough space to put anything on net. In the 13th minute, JCU had their first corner of the match, but it did not result in a shot. 

A Capital throw in gave them their first offensive opportunity of the night. Sam Spirk threw it in and found Jack Francisco, who headed the pass into the back of the net for Capital to take a 1-0 lead. 

The Blue Streaks got their first shot of the night in the 24th minute, but it was sent high and wide by Ianiro. In the 37th minute, JCU got on the board. Jack Foht got a shot past Landon Hoehn after passes from James Hoover and Michael Kelly. Hoover earned the assist on the play. 

"A lot of credit to Capital, they came out firing," said Mladenovic. "They're a really well-coached program by Alan Yost, a guy I have a tremendous amount of respect for. He had a great game plan. They caught us on our heels the first 15-20 minutes of the game. Our subs came in and gave us a lot of energy, they gave us the equalizing goal before halftime, which was very important. 

The first half ended 1-1, and JCU led in shots 6-2. Both teams had one shot on goal each, resulting in goals. 

John Carroll got two shots in the early minutes of the second half by James Hoover and Jack Foht, but they both were off target. In the 52nd minute, Jarrett Puckett of Capital had a shot off a free kick just outside the box, but it sailed high. 

John Carroll answered with a corner kick opportunity, and Jared Ianiro found the ball at his foot and put it into an open net to give John Carroll the lead in the 55th minute. 

"We were 1-1 for a while, Capital played a great game," said Ianiro. "In the second half, we were lucky enough to put the ball in the net." 

Just 30 seconds later, Justin LaFountain was fouled in the box for a penalty kick. Will Turritin took the PK and found the bottom left of the goal to make it 3-1 just 10 minutes into the second half. 

"Justin made a great run down the line and drew the foul," said Turrittin. "You just need to be calm, cool, and collected on a penalty kick. It was Justin's effort he put in, I just had to put the ball past the goalie." 

Capital was given a chance quickly, as the Comets had another free kick just outside the box, and a shot by Sam Spirk was headed just wide. The teams traded a few shots, but nothing too threatening until the 80th minute. Jack Foht sealed the game with a shot barely past the goalkeeper to make it 4-1. 

"At halftime, we talked about ramping up our effort and focus," said Mladenovic. "We came out and finished the job. We came out in the second half with the right intentions, were able to get a couple quick ones, and the fourth to put the cherry on top to put the game away." 

The Comets had to play the final ten minutes down a man after a red card on Sam Spirk. Will Turritin was also assessed a yellow. In the final minutes, the Blue Streaks sealed the win without another shot on goal by either team. John Carroll outshot the Comets, 15-11, and 8-1 in shots on goal. 

John Carroll will advance to host Otterbein in their fourth consecutive OAC Tournament Championship Game on Saturday November 6 at Don Shula Stadium. John Carroll and Otterbein tied in their regular season matchup back in October in Westerville. 
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