Granville, Ohio – Battling Bishops Edge Out Big Red in NCAC Thriller
In an intense showdown on Saturday, Denison University faced off against Ohio Wesleyan to determine the top seed for the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) men’s lacrosse tournament. With fans clad in red and black, emotions ran high as the two rivals clashed, but the Big Red fell short, losing 15-13.
The defeat marks Denison’s first loss in the NCAC, dropping their record to 12-5 overall (7-1 in conference play) while Ohio Wesleyan improved to 13-3 (8-0 in NCAC), securing the top playoff seed. Despite a storied rivalry with Denison leading their historical matchup 21-7, the Big Red couldn’t capitalize on their home advantage.
The game began with Ohio Wesleyan scoring first, but Denison quickly responded with three consecutive goals, leading 3-1 early on. By halftime, both teams were tied at eight. After the break, Ohio Wesleyan surged ahead with four unanswered goals, extending their lead to four. Denison rallied late, scoring four unassisted goals, but untimely turnovers hindered their comeback efforts.
Collin Murphy led Denison’s scoring with three goals, supported by Liam Gillard, Tommy Quinson, and Kevin Berutich, each contributing two. Defensively, Charlie Haight stood out with three caused turnovers, while goalie Andrew Albert made ten crucial saves. Despite Denison’s success in ground balls (38-31) and face-offs (21 of 32), the Battling Bishops’ scoring efficiency proved decisive.
Next up, Denison will host the College of Wooster on Wednesday, April 30, at 4 p.m. for the NCAC tournament semifinals, aiming for redemption against the Fighting Scots.
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