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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Max Hess
Elsie Connell
Max Hess scored the first goal of his JCU career on Thursday.
1
Ohio Northern ONU (6-4-1, 6-4-1)
2
Winner John Carroll JCU (9-0-0, 9-0-0)
Ohio Northern ONU
(6-4-1, 6-4-1)
1
Final
2
John Carroll JCU
(9-0-0, 9-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ohio Northern ONU 0 1 1
John Carroll JCU 2 0 2

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

Early Offense Propels Men's Soccer to Third Straight OAC Title Game

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- On a cold night at Don Shula Stadium, John Carroll University Men's Soccer took down the Ohio Northern Polar Bears by a final of 2-1. This marks the Blue Streaks' third straight trip to the OAC Tournament Championship. 

The Blue Streaks are one win away from winning their third straight OAC title. 

John Carroll held possession and had an early chance for a corner, but ONU goalkeeper John Lombardo got enough of a hand on it to settle it and the ball was cleared. After a foul, JCU maintained possession on a free kick, but nothing came of it as the first 7 minutes of play did not see a shot. 

Bryan Kern got the first shot on the board for the Polar Bears in the 19th minute. It was an easy one for Connor Robinson to handle, as it stayed on the ground and Robinson had a visual the whole time. Kern had another attempt after a free kick was sent into the box, but it was cleared out by Nicholas Ruggiero momentarily. Robinson got his second save of the game with another shot by Zach Yoder that was easily handled. 

Jared Ianiro had a great shot in the middle of the first half for the Blue Streaks, as a deflection was put right to his foot, and a low liner was just wide of the net. Shortly after, the Blue Streaks got on the board.

In the 33rd minute, Ruggiero passed the ball in the box to Lawrence Cersosimo II, who flicked it with his back foot over a defender to Benjamin Hryszko. The senior put the ball in the back of the net to put John Carroll on the board with his fourth goal of the season. It was a beautiful goal of teamwork, a marvel to watch. 

Hryszko had another chance with a corner in the 40th minute, but the shot from Ruggiero sailed over the net. Hryszko's half was not done offensively, however. 

The Strongsville native fed a great pass to the far post to Max Hess, and Hess barely put it past the keeper to make it 2-0 going into the half. 
    
Ohio Northern had their first offensive opportunity in the second half with a corner in the 52nd minute, and it was volleyed towards the net but safely in the grasps of Robinson. 
    
Levi King got the Polar Bears on the board with a set play off of his own free kick just outside the box on an unassisted goal. Ohio Northern now trailed, 2-1, in the 61st minute. 

JCU had a chance to answer back in the 65th minute on a free kick from William Turrittin, and a shot from Ianiro was just high and over the bar. With 23 minutes remaining, ONU had two corner kicks, but was unable to capitalize on either. 

Again with 18 minutes remaining, ONU had a shot barely deflected by a JCU defender forcing a corner. The corner was immediately grasped by Robinson, who was busy in the second half as tension grew with every minute. 

JCU had an opportunity to extend the lead and put the game out of reach with a corner with 12 minutes remaining, but it was quickly cleared and the threat was eliminated. Just a moment later, there was a collision in front of the net as the Blue Streaks were looking to score, but Jared Mattei was unable to score and took a hard fall. 

Robinson made a flying snag with 7 minutes remaining on an ONU cross. He would make his seventh save of the night on a diving tip save to keep a shot wide. The ensuing corner was volleyed around and cleared. However, the pressure continued the final five minutes of play. 

ONU would threaten with a corner in the final minute, and pull their keeper Lombardo way forward, but would come away without another goal.
    
With the 2-1 victory, John Carroll clinched their ninth trip to the OAC final in 10 years. This marked their fourth win in the OAC tournament against ONU, 19th time in the OAC semifinals, and first win against a No. 4 seed in the OAC tournament. 

The OAC Championship will take place at Don Shula Stadium between John Carroll and Marietta on Sunday, April 18. 
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