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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Brenden Moher vs. BW 10-16-24
Baldwin Wallace Sports Information
1
Winner John Carroll JCU (9-3-2, 3-1-0)
0
Baldwin Wallace BW (5-7-3, 0-4-0)
Winner
John Carroll JCU
(9-3-2, 3-1-0)
1
Final
0
Baldwin Wallace BW
(5-7-3, 0-4-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
John Carroll JCU 0 1 1
Baldwin Wallace BW 0 0 0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Gianluca DiGiacomo, Staff Writer

Blue Streaks Fire Past Yellow Jackets in Cuyahoga Derby

A late goal from Jaden Wright gives Blue Streaks a much-needed three points

BEREA – Tonight, the John Carroll Blue Streaks traveled to the West Side of Cleveland as they prepared themselves for their final Cuyahoga Derby as a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference, coming into enemy territory at Finne Stadium to take on the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets.

After starting their conference tenure 0-3, not only were the Yellow Jackets fiending for redemption for the sake of their season, but also looking to get the last laugh on the Blue Streaks before they jump ship to the North Coast Athletic Conference.

Despite a solid effort all around from the Yellow Jackets, it would not be enough, and a late goal seeped through the cracks for the Blue Streaks to come away with the victory, extending their undefeated streak vs. BW stemming from 2010.

With the factors of a brutally cold Ohio night, a midweek evening kickoff, and two teams ready to beat the brakes off of each other one last time as the sun sets, a certain Division III soccer-esque magic filled the air in Berea.

The Blue Streaks opened their campaign in the opening minutes finding themselves on the right side of the momentum swing. Wenzler's Warriors' first major chance came two minutes in with Jaden Wright getting a tap off of a corner kick, heading straight towards the keeper for an easy save.

The opening ten minutes brought much end-to-end action, and the intensity picked up as the half ensued.

As John Carroll settled in, the Yellow Jackets began settling into quite the low block, packing things in and giving the Blue Streaks a true challenge. With attempting to circumnavigate the numbers behind the ball, a growing sense of frustration plagued the visitors.

A few good chances stockpiled halfway through the first half, as twenty minutes in, Nicholas Graeca got a ball behind the defense on the right hand side of the box. Off balance, Graeca laces a shot just wide left. Three minutes later, Dylan Halm got a wonderful ball through. Facing a rushing goalkeeper, Halm just chipped it over the outstretched keeper. As it trickled in, a Yellow Jacket defender cleared it off the line at the last possible second, a truly heroic act that kept the energy flowing.
Another good look in the 33rd minute came from Izac Coleman being on the end of a few chaotic deflections, finding the ball at his feet on the left hand side about six yards away from goal and sending it over the bar.

The halftime break was upon both teams, and the Blue Streaks had much to sort out. With a much less offensively aggressive Baldwin Wallace side than anyone has seen this season, a few tactical changes made the dream work in the second half of play.

Within the first five minutes of the second half, the Blue Streaks already found some crevices in Baldwin Wallace's defenses, with Dylan Halm being on the receiving end of some great play in condensed areas, sending it towards the front post once again saved by the keeper.

Frustration continued to build; as progression looked cleaner, it seemed like the ability to finish in the final third dwindled. Deki's army was a step away from brilliance each and every time, but nothing was made true on the score sheet.

With ten minutes left, the Blue Streaks finally broke the deadlock. A newly-subbed on freshman Patrick Bohan sprinted down the right hand flank and sent in a cross towards the back post. Soaring through the air, fifth-year attacker Jaden Wright rose to the occasion, climbing the ladder and tapping the ball past the goalkeeper. A simple finish which sent the John Carroll bench into hysterics.

Just a couple of minutes later, a huge breakout opportunity came about as John Carroll yearned to double their advantage. On another progression forward, a ball sent over a handful of defenders fell to Patrick Koenig. Koeing's touch at goal flew into the crossbar, coming back down in the box as another shot was sent off the inside of the post by Patrick Bohan. On yet another deflection, a one-time shot fell into the goalkeeper who was previously on the ground from Bohan's shot. After the ball was cleared away, a wave of psychotic laughter flew over the Blue Streaks' bench, Head Coach Dejan Mladenovic quite literally falling on his knees as the chance disintegrated in front of our eyes.

The chaotic derby wrapped up with the final whistle of the center official, and the Blue Streaks could marvel in a not-so-pretty, but hard-fought win, advancing to 3-1 in OAC play.

The Blue Streaks are back in action on Saturday at Don Shula Stadium as they prepare to take on Marietta College, kickoff set from 7 pm hitting the middle stages of one final Ohio Athletic Conference run.
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