Denison 2, Ohio Wesleyan 1

Nov. 7, 2009

Junior forward Tyler Wall (Columbus/Upper Arlington) scored to tie the game at 1-1, but Denison got the game-winner in the second overtime to defeat Ohio Wesleyan in the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament championship game on Saturday at Roy Rike Field.

With the win, Denison claims the NCAC's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III tournament. Ohio Wesleyan will look to receive a Pool C bid to the NCAA tournament, which would be the Bishops' NCAA-record 32nd Division III playoff appearance. The NCAA playoff bracket is scheduled to be released on Monday.

Ohio Wesleyan had the first scoring chance of the game when sophomore midfielder Travis Wall (Columbus/Upper Arlington) sent a bicycle kick just over the crossbar in the fourth minute.

Denison assembled a couple of chances, first in the 18th minute when Lenny Mills got loose on a breakaway and sent a shot across the goal mouth which senior goalkeeper Richard Ott (Norwalk) deflected. Mills came back again after a Denison counter in the 30th minute, but again Ott was there for the save.

The Big Red took the lead in the opening minutes of the second half. Preston Wagner sent the ball into the box from about 35 yards out. Ott was screened on the play, and the ball found the upper corner of the net for a 1-0 Denison lead in the 47th minute.

Ohio Wesleyan answered in the 74th minute, with senior midfielder Blake Pifer (Fleming/Ada) playing the ball ahead to Tyler Wall. Wall broke in on Denison keeper Kevin Donahue, who came out to challenge the play, and chipped the ball over the Big Red netminder to tie the game at 1-1.

With the Bishops looking for the go-ahead score, senior midfielder Eric Francis (Alliance/Marlington) set Tyler Wall free on a breakaway in the 80th minute, but Wall's shot past an onrushing Donahue trickled wide left.

Ohio Wesleyan had one more good chance at the end of regulation time, earning a corner kick in the closing seconds, but a header by junior back Brian Greene (Beavercreek) was high.

Greene had another good look after a restart in the first overtime period, but his header was snared by Donahue in the 95th minute.

Travis Wall nearly won the game at the end of the first overtime period, getting off a shot in transition, but Donahue grabbed the ball on the goal line in the final seconds.

The Big Red ended the game early in the second overtime period, playing the ball into the box from the left side. The Bishop defense sent the ball out toward the right side, where Denison's Peter Shorten settled it and found the net for the game-winner.

Ohio Wesleyan outshot Denison, 26-11. Ott finished with 2 saves for the Bishops, while Donahue had 5 saves for Denison.

Box Score