Ohio Northern Men's Soccer Starts Out in Scrimmage versus Denison

Ohio Northern Men's Soccer team kicked off the 2023 season in a scrimmage against a good Denison side. The Polar Bears come into the season ranked Thirteenth in the United Soccer Coach's Preseason Poll with a big goal in mind of winning the Ohio Athletic Conference and reaching the NCAA tournament. The Polar Bears are being led by Captains Will Shaffer, Senior Midfielder, Brenden Gervers, Junior Defender, and Noah Zebrak, Junior Defender. The squad has a good number of returners from last season that will bring experience into a younger squad with only having three senior players in the squad. 

In the game tonight versus Denison, the team would play three, thirty-minute periods. There was a good environment for the first sight at the Polar Bears, as there has been some hype behind the team going into the 2023 season. The game started out slow for both teams resulting in a 0-0 tie going into the second thirty-minute period. The Polar Bears would come out hot and score in the first thirteen seconds of the second thirty-minute period. The goal would happen on a long pass from Grant Israel to Kellen Minch then a whipped-in cross on the ground to Senior Midfielder Cade Winchester who would slot the goal in the back of the net. The boys would put one more goal in later in the third period after a mistake from Denison and a shot by Jacob Grant which would be saved by then tapped in from Sophomore Forward Sam Holden.

The Men’s Soccer Team will be back in action against Case Western on Saturday. Go Bears!