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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Hryszko
Jamie Dailey
1
Heidelberg HEI (0-8-0, 0-8-0)
2
Winner John Carroll JCU (7-0-0, 7-0-0)
Heidelberg HEI
(0-8-0, 0-8-0)
1
Final
2
John Carroll JCU
(7-0-0, 7-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Heidelberg HEI 0 1 1
John Carroll JCU 0 2 2

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

Men's Soccer Clinches 3rd Straight OAC Regular Season Championship

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- On a rainy and windy night at Don Shula Stadium, the first place and undefeated Blue Streaks took on the 0-7 Heidelberg Student Princes, and came out on top, 2-1, to clinch the program's third straight OAC Regular Season Championship. 

Lawrence Cersosimo II scored the game-winning goal for the Blue Streaks on a rainy night that JCU largely dominated. 

The Blue Streaks threatened early with a corner kick. After the cross was deflected to the near post, William Turrittin rifled a shot that was immediately blocked away. Turrittin had another shot on goal in the ninth minute but goalie Thomas Abraham made the save. JCU threatened early again with an Izac Coleman shot on the near side that forced a corner, but the Heidelberg defense held strong again.

JCU had a free kick opportunity in the 11th minute about 30 yards out, and Jared Ianiro seemed to have some space, but the Student Princes got a favorable bounce on Ianiro's header and the threat was stifled again. Izac Coleman had another opportunity on a corner and Daniel Kalic had a header back post that looked like it would squeak through, but a Heidelberg defender got just enough of a leg on it to deflect it away and Heidelberg would successfully clear the ball. 

With 18 minutes remaining in the half, JCU was passing the ball around from about 25 yards out, and Jared Mattei felt space and took a shot, but was a little too off balance, and the wet ball caused just enough for an inaccurate shot. 

With 11 minutes to go in the first half, Benjamin Hryszko took a corner and had a beautiful cross to the top of the box, and it looked like a cross side header from Mattei had a chance, but the Heidelberg defense held strong again just three yards in front of the net. Will Grubs had a great strike from the top of the box, and keeper Abraham made a jumping fingertip save to force a corner. JCU controlled the ball on the Heidelberg side of the field for seemingly the whole half, but could not capitalize on their chances, as the half ended tied, 0-0.

John Carroll led Heidelberg in shots, 14-0, and shots on target, 4-0, at the break. 

Early in the second half, JCU had two early shots, both deflected resulting in a corner kick from Brenden Swann, but the shot off the cross was shot wide. 

The Blue Streaks finally got on the board with a goal from Hryszko, assisted by Swann. The ball bounced around the middle of the box, and Swann was able to find Hryszko, who capitalized on a great pass in the 48th minute. 

Swann had more opportunities at an assist on three corners in the next stretch, but two shots were deflected wide, and JCU was ruled offsides on another, and the game stayed 1-0.

Heidelberg would answer back with a goal in the 61st minute. The ball was bouncing around the around 20-30 yards out, and Simon Joseph was able to get enough of the ball to barely tap it over Connor Robinson's reach. The ball trickled in for just the second goal JCU has allowed all year.  

Quickly after the Berg goal, Jared Ianiro had a great opportunity with an open shot, but hit the crossbar, and a rebound shot by Brenden Swann hit the side of the net, so the game remained 1-1. 

In the 65th minute, Lawrence Cersosimo II answered with a goal that squeaked past the goalkeeper. Cersosimo was set up by Hryszko, coming after great ball pressure by the JCU forwards. Despite turning it over a minute before, JCU did not give up and caused a turnover resulting in a quick goal. 

The Blue Streaks had another chance in front of the net with a Hryszko shot, but it caught the heel of a Student Princes' defender and the goalie had time to make a diving save. JCU had another corner by Aidan Bozak, but it was quickly cleared. Heidelberg put pressure on JCU keeper Connor Robinson, and he came flying out of the box to the 25 yard line of the football field and tumbled over Noah Sharrit to complete the clear. 

The game went without any other scoring chances and JCU held on to win, 2-1. With a Capital 3-1 win over Wilmington, JCU earned their third straight regular season conference championship. 

John Carroll outshot Heidelberg, 31-1, and 10-1 in shots on target. Heidelberg committed 18 fouls and was booked on 5 yellow cards, compared to 6 fouls and no cards for JCU. 

JCU will finish their regular season on Sunday, April 10 at Wilmington College. 
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