Granville, Ohio – The Oberlin College men's soccer team wrapped up its 2026 season on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-0 to Denison in its final North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) matchup of the year.
Denison opened the scoring just 4:11 into the contest, taking a 1-0 lead into halftime. Oberlin looked to respond after the break, but the Big Red added another goal in the 51' to extend their advantage. A third goal in the 80' brought the final score to 3-0.
The Crimson and Gold recorded six shots on the afternoon, putting five on target. Jack Kaplan led Oberlin with two shots, both of which were on goal, while Christopher Plenca, Michael Dolton, Orlando Popkin, and Kinton Surface each added a shot. In goal, Vince Fortuna played all 90 minutes and finished with five saves.
Oberlin found more opportunities in the second half, putting all six of its shots on goal after being held without a shot in the opening 45 minutes. Surface, Popkin, Kaplan, and Plenca each tested the Denison goalkeeper during a stretch of offensive pressure following halftime. Fortuna also kept the Yeomen within reach, making four saves in the first half before adding another stop in the second.
The Yeomen finished the afternoon with five shots on goal, compared to eight for Denison, and earned four corner kicks, including two in the second half. Oberlin continued to create chances throughout the closing stages, with Kaplan and Dolton adding attempts in the final minutes.
The 2026 campaign featured several important moments for the Crimson and Gold, including a 2-1 NCAC road victory over Wooster and a four-goal performance against Heidelberg. Oberlin will graduate six seniors but returns a group of players with valuable experience as the program looks ahead to the 2027 season.
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