WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Wilmington College men's soccer team erased a halftime deficit with an early goal in the second 45 minutes, but Denison University, which played a man down the final 30 minutes, scored the game-winner in the 81st minute to earn a 2-1 win at Williams Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Big Red, ranked No. 16 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll, nearly opened the scoring in the 12th minute when a Niko Aryros firecracker from nearly 30 yards out caromed off the crossbar. Five minutes later, the visitors earned a free kick were the receivers of some good fortune as a Fightin' Quaker defender, in an attempt to clear the cross, inadvertently headed the ball into the WC net.
Wilmington held a 7-4 edge in shots including by a 3-1 margin in shots on goal, but went into halftime trailing 1-0. It didn't take long for the hosts to equalize as Elorm Dogbey broke through the Big Red defensive line and scored 32 seconds into the half. Unfortunately for the hosts, the Big Red would break the deadlock with a game-winning goal in the 81st minute. Ben Goeller fed a pass to Rohan Tripathy, who beat the Quakers' goalkeeper Thomas Grimes to the ball and buried the shot in the back of the net.
The Quakers, who held a 13-5 edge in shots in the second half, fired five shots and earned four corner kicks in the final 10 minutes, but consecutive saves from Tommy Prokos from inside the 18-yard box in the final 90 seconds sealed the Denison victory.
Prokos earned the victory, making 10 saves in the game while Grimes made a single save and took the loss. Wilmington outshot Denison 20-8 in the game including by an 11-3 margin in shots on goal.
The Quakers conclude non-conference play with a 5-3-1 record and will open Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play at defending champion John Carroll University next Saturday. Kickoff from Don Shula Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.
