It wasn't the first time that these two teams had a high scoring contest, and it may not be the last, but it would be one that brings the Blue Streaks back home.

The #3 seed John Carroll University Blue Streaks (11-6, 6-3 OAC) took on #2 seed Baldwin Wallace (14-3, 8-1 OAC) in an Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal round game in Berea, Ohio. On a rain-soaked evening, there would be no shortage of goals as 26 found targets would be accumulated by both sides, but it would be JCU taking the victory, 14-12.

The win advances John Carroll to the OAC Tournament Championship game on Saturday, May 4th, at 3:00 p.m. (pending league approval) against the fourth-seed, Ohio Northern. The game will be played at Don Shula Stadium.

The first goal wouldn't be scored until after six minutes into the game when Skyler Blake gave the Blue Streaks a 1-0 lead. Baldwin Wallace would tie soon after, but, in the final five minutes, Kevin Hack, Cam Gerard, with an assist from Josh Plarr, and Bennet Gorman would each add a goal. The defense of JCU would hold BW scoreless for the remainder of the opening quarter, and they led 4-1 after 15 minutes.

It wouldn't take long for the Blue Streaks to find the net as Kevin Hack scored his second goal of the contest from an assist from Patrick O'Grady less than a minute into the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets scored two unanswered goals, and the score was now  5-3 with 10:12 remaining in the half. Both teams held each other without a goal for the majority of the time afterwards in the quarter, until Brendan Whitty, who was denied by the post on a last-second shot to end the first quarter, found the net with 33 seconds remaining, and the Blue and Gold took a 6-3 lead into halftime.

Reigning OAC Defensive Player of the Week Evan Schneeberger won seven face-offs in the first half. Jacob Betz made three saves as Baldwin Wallace fired 17 shots in the opening 30 minutes. 

The offense picked back up as BW and JCU alternated goals for the third quarter. Ben Kubiak scored early, and Blake was able to get a goal back. Kubiak scored again, then Blake assisted Colin Corcoran on his goal. The Yellow Jackets added two more goals in the final minute and 30 seconds. The Blue Streaks led at the end of the third quarter 8-7. This would be the busiest 15 minutes for Betz in the game. He made six saves in the third quarter on 10 shots on goal.

Like the second quarter, the Blue Streaks didn't wait long to score as Bennett Gorman scored another goal just over a minute into the fourth quarter. A 9-7 lead would be erased, however, as Baldwin Wallace scored three consecutive goals, and took a 10-9 lead with 10:09 remaining in the game. It was the first time all evening that the Blue Streaks had found themselves behind.

The response would be swift and decisive.

At the 7:32 mark, JCU got the tying goal with Hack scoring, and that would be followed up by a O'Grady goal less than a minute later to give John Carroll the lead back with the score at 11-10. 
   
The Blue Streaks went on a man-up opportunity for two minute on a non-releasable penalty. The Blue Streaks' offense made the most of the opportunity, as Gorman and Corcoran, with an assist from Whitty, each scored while a man-up. The Blue Gold created a 13-10 lead with 3:23 remaining in the game.

Hack added one more goal, and after two late Baldwin Wallace goals, John Carroll saw time expire, and the Blue Streaks advanced to the OAC Championship Game for the fifth time in six years, and for the fourth consecutive year as the hosts.

Hack finished the game with four goals, and Gorman finished with three goals and an assist. Clayton Karam led JCU in ground balls recording six, while also causing two turnovers. Betz finished the game with 14 saves mad. Cam Cecere also won four face-offs in the contest.

John Carroll improves to 12-6 while Baldwin Wallace, which had its nine-game winning streak snapped, ends its season at 14-3.