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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Vogrin in net nice night
Diona Johnson
A Wilmington own goal provided the difference on a nice night at Shula Stadium. 
0
Wilmington (OH) WIL (5-4-1, 0-1-0)
1
Winner John Carroll JCU (6-3-1, 1-0-0)
Wilmington (OH) WIL
(5-4-1, 0-1-0)
0
Final
1
John Carroll JCU
(6-3-1, 1-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wilmington (OH) WIL 0 0 0
John Carroll JCU 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Wonderful Bounce Delivers OAC-Opening Victory for Men's Soccer

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – As a wise man once said, a win is a win is a win. 

For much of the first 88 minutes of the match, the Blue Streaks enjoyed the better of the play. John Carroll knocked on the door, but struggled to break through for that needed game-winner vs. Wilmington College. 

And then, in the 88th minute, a well-earned stroke of luck came John Carroll's way, as a Wilmington own goal provided the Blue Streaks the difference in a 1-0 victory. 

"We have a lot of respect for Wilmington, they have a very potent attack," said Head Coach Dejan Mladenovic '06. "We knew that the game would be a little unorthodox because they leave guys high. I'm really proud of our effort, especially in the backline and our ability to build through the midfield and play our way."

The triumph ensured that John Carroll would begin conference play with a victory (and also a sweep for JCU over Wilmington across four sports today).

John Carroll started on the offensive in the Ohio Athletic Conference opener, as Nicholas Felician had a shot blocked within the first minute. Patrick Koenig slotted a shot on goal in the eighth minute and then another one wide shortly after.

However, the Fightin' Quakers were no wallflowers. Wilmington threatened during a number of points of the first half, including in the 26th minute when Jake Vogrin stood equal to a shot.

As the sky turned from beautiful shades of orange and red to a starry night sky, the teams settled in. The Blue Streaks and Fightin' Quakers each enjoyed some promising free kick chances, and the hosts got some good-looking corner kicks. JCU would finish the half with five corners. Daniel Kalic pounded a hard shot on cage in the 43rd minute, and Wilmington responded with a single-bouncer soon after. 

But despite the solid chances, neither team could break through in the first half. 

Koenig fired a shot just wide right early in the second half in a very promising chance. Wilmington also tallied a shot on net early, around the 50th minute. A few minutes later, Hayden Haffner fired a shot from straight on, but Wilmington had the answer. 

In the 58th minute, Nicholas Graeca found space. He missiled a shot just wide right, eliciting a loud "OH!" from the crowd. Blue Streaks fans made similar noise when Haffner missed another powerful shot off a Graeca pass in the 59th minute. 

Penton tallied a nice shot, but nothing was doing. The Blue Streaks continually placed pressure on the Fightin' Quakers, to no avail for a while. But in the 88th minute, the striving paid off.

Patrick Koenig fired a pass into the box, looking for Jack Foht. The ball fortuitously deflected off of a Wilmington defender and into the lower left corner of the net. It was a shocking turn of events for John Carroll, which has scuffled some at home this year against very talented foes. 

"We know our non-conference schedule is extremely difficult," said Mladenovic. "We have one of the top strength of schedule (SOS) figures in the entire country. We signed up for that. We want to learn tough lessons early in the season, so hopefully they pay off on nights like tonight." 

With the victory, John Carroll advances to 6-3-1 on the season, and now 1-0 in conference play. The Blue Streaks preserve a flawless 13-0-1 record over Wilmington at Don Shula Stadium.

The Blue Streaks now prepare for a road stretch, starting at Heidelberg next Wednesday at 4 pm.
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