UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – It was a spooky day for the Streaks as they took on an NCAC fight against the Little Giants of Wabash.
Today's matchup carried significant postseason implications for John Carroll Men's Soccer, as a victory would secure the Blue Streaks a spot in the NCAC Tournament.
The Blue Streaks entered the game with a 6-7-3 record and 3-3-1 in the conference. The Little Giants entered with a 10-8-1 record and a 1-6 conference record.
Perhaps both teams had too much Halloween candy before the game, as neither side could find its rhythm in a quiet, scoreless first half.
The Streaks dominated offensively, though, outshooting the Little Giants 7 to 1 in the first half.
Harley Forkins opened up the match with a hard shot just over the net and one again a few minutes later in the same spot. Fouls and free kicks dominated the half, with Forkins taking one last shot with 30 seconds remaining, but again, just too high to find the back of the net.
A slow start to the game gave way to an action-packed second half.
Each team went shot for shot, with both Wabash and John Carrolls goalies standing strong in net. About halfway into the second half, penalties became the name of the game. In the span of ten minutes, 4 yellow cards were handed out: 3 for the Little Giants and 1 for the Streaks. The Streaks pounced on this opportunity, taking 16 shots in the half.
As the game began to wind down, the Streaks did not let up. A handball from the Little Giants gave way to a penalty kick for the Blue Streaks.
Dylan Halm's strategic placement and fancy footwork helped sail the ball past the Wabash goalie and straight into the back of the net. The Streaks took the 1-0 lead over the Little Giants with just 13 minutes remaining in the game.
John Carroll definitely possessed the momentum for the remainder of the game, holding off the Little Giants and only taking 1 more shot themselves.
Grit and perseverance from the Blue Streaks defined the second half, allowing them to walk away with the 1-0 victory and clinch a spot in the NCAC tournament.
Next Up
Today's win secures a spot for John Carroll in the NCAC Tournament. JCU will head to #2 seed Denison on Thursday, November 5.
