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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Nicholas Felician vs. ONU
Anthony McFarlin
The Blue Streaks came oh-so-close to scoring late, but couldn't manage a tie.  
2
Winner Ohio Northern ONU (9-2-3, 4-0-1)
1
John Carroll JCU (9-4-1, 4-1-0)
Winner
Ohio Northern ONU
(9-2-3, 4-0-1)
2
Final
1
John Carroll JCU
(9-4-1, 4-1-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ohio Northern ONU 1 1 2
John Carroll JCU 1 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | JCUSID

Men's Soccer Loses to ONU, Dropping First OAC Home Game Since 2015

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – As the Cleveland Guardians battled the New York Yankees, two equally bitter rivals battled it out on the pitch in University Heights. 

And unlike at Progressive Field, the bad guys won at Don Shula Stadium.

John Carroll Men's Soccer lost a heartbreaker to Ohio Northern, 2-1. 

The defeat marked the program's first regular season home conference defeat since 2015. The Polar Bears were due, as JCU had won the last eight meetings, twice in PK's. ONU's last win was in 2015. The rivalry between the two teams has led to some incredible dramatics.

Tonight, the Blue Streaks got behind twice. The first time, JCU responded. But despite a mad flurry of chances late, JCU couldn't get back to square after the second. 

The first 20 minutes of the match was fairly tame by the rivalry's standards. Not many fouls and only one shot wide by Patrick Koenig. But that changed in the 25th minute.

Ohio Northern saw a strong buildup on the right side and seized on a small weakness in the JCU armor. Cade Winchester passed it into the box to a waiting Levi King. The fifth year senior beat a Blue Streak for a 50/50 ball and slotted the ball low right side for the opening salvo of the match.

ONU's goal was the first allowed by John Carroll in conference play this season. 

The Polar Bears continued to pressure the Blue Streaks with a pair of corners shortly after. But JCU started to build momentum of their own. Izac Coleman threatened with a shot on goal in the 28th minute. In the 33rd minute, the Blue Streaks set the game back to equal. 

On the far side, Nicholas Ruggiero tossed a throw-in to Michael Burrington. The veteran passed it back to Ruggiero immediately, and the senior from Middleburg Heights fired in a pass to the box. Nicholas Felician flicked it in for a marvelous goal. 

Brenden Swann kept the pressure up with a shot on goal not long after. But neither team could sustain significant stretches of possession in the waning minutes. 

The Blue Streaks and Polar Bears headed into halftime level at 1-1. ONU enjoyed a slight advantage in shots, 5-4. 

Just 62 seconds into the second half, the Polar Bears found the back of the net to the stunned disbelief of the Blue Streaks faithful. Sam McKee sent in a shot from the far side that deflected of the left post and found its way into the back of the net on a fortunate bounce. 

And just like that, the Polar Bears found themselves out in front, 2-1. 

The teams traded shots in the ensuing minutes, with Logan Penton threatening for John Carroll in the 57th minute. 

The Blue Streaks launched a flurry of shots on net and off target as the match came to its dramatic end. John Carroll outshot Ohio Northern in the second half, 11-5, including 5-1 in shots on goal. For the game, JCU led in both categories, 15-10 and 8-4. 

Following the gut-wrenching loss, the Blue Streaks will continue to face the best of the conference. The Otterbein Cardinals will welcome John Carroll on Wednesday for a rematch of last year's title bout. 
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