There is only one way to end a season properly, which is on a high note.

That happens very rarely, especially in the postseason.

John Carroll's 2019 campaign, which has been a season to celebrate, came to an unceremonious end Sunday at Don Shula Stadium. Visiting Centre College scored two first half goals and kept the Blue Streaks at arms length the remainder of the match to take a 3-1 victory in a second round match-up in the NCAA Division III Championship.

JCU had won 10 consecutive matches, including the last six by shutout, but when Centre's Will Newton scored off a misplay in the box in the 17th minute, it was as if a balloon had popped. It was the first goal allowed by John Carroll since the second minute of a 4-1 win at Baldwin Wallace on October 23.

The Colonels, who were riding their own 11-match winning streak, stayed on the attack and scored their second goal on a corner kick a little over five minutes later, as Newton finished off a set piece started by Centre All-American Alexander Garuba.

It was John Carroll's first two goal deficit since losing to Messiah on September 28.

The Blue Streaks tried to climb back into the match, and managed to get halfway there when Lawrence Cersosimo found the back of the net off a corner from William Turrittin in the 38th minute, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The assist was Turrittin's 14th of the year, tying Pete Duggan's single season school record.

That was the score heading to the locker room.

Any hope John Carroll had of continuing the comeback came to an abrupt halt in the 58th minute of the second half, when Garuba outraced the JCU defense on a Dylan Barth thru ball and finished the play with his 22nd goal of the season, giving the Colonels a 3-1 lead.

The Blue Streaks managed just two more shots the rest of the way, and only one on goal.

Centre won the battle of shots (13-7, 6-4 on goal) while JCU had the slight edge in corner kicks (8-5).

JCU's season ends in the NCAA second round for the third consecutive year, and all have come at home.

The 18 victories are a single season record for John Carroll.