Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
NO. 17 ONU MEN'S SOCCER REPEAT AS CCAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
Posted: Nov 11, 2022

NO. 17 ONU MEN'S SOCCER REPEAT AS CCAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS

Photos Box Score

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The No. 17 Olivet Nazarene University men's soccer program repeated as CCAC Tournament Champions for the first time since 2013 and 2014 after defeating Cardinal Stritch 2-0 in the final. The Tigers finish unbeaten in conference and tie a program record for the most wins in a season with 16 as they continue their season into the NAIA National Tournament Opening Rounds.

 

Justin Eiesnmann scored the game-winning goal just six minutes into the contest. The CCAC's leading goal scorer broke the Wolves back line as Benjamin Strubelt's through-ball unlocked the CSU defense. The German attacker slotted the team's first and only shot on goal for the half just inside the post to open the scoring.


The freshman, Noa Norton put the game away in the 81st minute to double the lead with less than 10 minutes left in the match. Norton's strength won out against Rutger Hesselink, a 6'6" CSU defender, leaving the Guam native to slip the ball past the goalkeeper for the all-important insurance goal.


The Tigers welcomed pressure for most of the game following the opening goal and looked to attack on the counter. Stritch outshot Olivet 10 to five for the night forcing Mike Giannotta into three saves. The ONU netminder from the Netherlands picked up his ninth shutout of the season to lead the conference.


"To come in a couple of days before preseason, the players are the ones who made my job easy," said ONU head coach, Danny Brandt after the match. "The players are the ones who take all the credit for the double and the CCAC title tonight. I've got a senior-laden and upper-class heavy group and they took it upon themselves to close out games. Our senior class really deserves this one."

 

WHAT'S NEXT

The No. 17 Tigers will wat the NAIA Tournament Selection Show this Monday at 12 p.m. CT. They will then travel to their selected destination with the first games of the Opening Rounds set for Thursday, Nov. 17. Please visit onutigers.com to follow all the action.

 

--ONU—

 

*Contact: Patrick Kaindl; Sports Information Graduate Assistant, email pkaindl@olivet.edu