Late goal lifts Kenyon to victory at John Carroll

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — Eighty-three minutes of scoreless soccer ended with a Kenyon College goal as the Owls walked off the artificial turf at Don Shula Stadium with a 1-0 non-conference victory over the host Blue Streaks of John Carroll University.

The outcome added another chapter to a seven-year stretch of thrilling games between these two teams with John Carroll set to join Kenyon in the North Coast Athletic Conference next season. With Sunday’s result in the book, the Owls, currently ranked at No. 19, moved their record to 3-4-0 against the Blue Streaks since the 2017 season.

The game-winner came with 6:46 left on the clock. Gerardo Martinez started the play by swinging the ball out, wide right, to Eamon Dujakovich, who gained control and headed to goal. Dujakovich then fired his shot past John Carroll goalkeeper Brenden Moher and toward the center of the goal. It was met there by a John Carroll defender who stopped it on the line, but Alem Duratovich charged in and made sure the ball found the net.

That was all the offense that was needed for the Owls, who improved to 2-0-0 and moved John Carroll to 1-1-0.

Defensively, Kenyon goalkeeper Jack Pedreschi did just as much, if not more, than Duratovich to generate the Owls victory. He made seven saves and earned the first shutout of the season, as well as the 25th of his career. 

Back at the start of the game, John Carroll opened with the first two shots on goal, but both were corralled by Pedreschi. The Owls then answered with a blast from Duratovich, who’s shot was denied by a leaping Moher. 

At the 13:13 mark, Kenyon had, perhaps, its best chance of the half. First-year defender Gabriel Romanenko fired in a free kick from the right sideline, about 30 yards away. As the ball descended, it hit the Blue Streaks’ cross bar just above the far post.

Before the break, John Carroll countered with back-to-back shots that were saved by Pedreschi. The first of those came right down the middle off the foot of Jack Foht. Pedreschi stopped that attempt, but couldn’t control the ball. The rebound went to Dylan Halm, who fired again, but didn’t get all of it, allowing Pedreschi an avenue to make an easy save.

Throughout those first 45 minutes, John Carroll held a slight 8-5 edge in shots over Kenyon.

The Kenyon goal aside, the second half didn’t bring any more offense, as the defenses were even more dominant. John Carroll put three more shots on goal, giving them seven for the game, but Pedreschi was in the right spot to make the saves.

Overall, the Blue Streak out-shot the Owls, 13-9, including a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal.