UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — Wabash College held John Carroll University scoreless for nearly 78 minutes Saturday afternoon before a late goal lifted the Blue Streaks to a 1-0 victory over the Little Giants in North Coast Athletic Conference in Wabash’s final soccer match of the 2026 season.
Wabash goalkeeper Gabe Sanich recorded five saves, including three in the second half, to keep the Little Giants within striking distance throughout the contest at Don Shula Stadium. Wabash finished its season with a 10-9-1 overall record and a 1-7 mark in conference play. John Carroll improved to 7-7-3 overall and 4-3-1 in the NCAC.
The Little Giants battled through an opening half in which John Carroll held a 7-2 advantage in shots. Sanich turned away an attempt by Harley Forkins in the 12th minute and stopped a shot from Dylan Halm in the 27th to preserve the scoreless tie.
Wabash generated its first scoring opportunity in the 18th minute when Ethan Simmons sent a shot wide of the goal. The Little Giants earned a corner kick moments later before Brady Reiter had an attempt blocked in the 42nd minute. The teams entered halftime tied at 0-0.
John Carroll increased its offensive pressure after the break, but Sanich and the Wabash defense continued to keep the Blue Streaks off the scoreboard. Sanich stopped a shot by Noah Schmidt in the 47th minute before Wabash created one of its best scoring opportunities in the 52nd minute. Reiter put an attempt on goal, but John Carroll goalkeeper Bryce Sampson made the save.
Senior Bryce Kinnaman added another scoring opportunity for the Little Giants in the 66th minute, sending a shot toward the lower-right corner of the net that Sampson stopped to maintain the scoreless tie.
The Blue Streaks continued to press offensively, but Wabash turned away several opportunities during the final 25 minutes. Sanich made consecutive saves against Forkins and Halm in the 76th and 77th minutes to keep the match even.
John Carroll finally broke through at the 77:48 mark when Halm scored his sixth goal of the season on an unassisted attempt to give the Blue Streaks a 1-0 advantage. Wabash was unable to generate another shot over the final 12 minutes as John Carroll held on for the victory.
Reiter led the Little Giants with two shots, including one on goal. Kinnaman and Simmons accounted for Wabash’s other two attempts. Sanich played all 90 minutes in goal, making two saves in the opening half and three after halftime.
John Carroll finished with a 23-4 advantage in shots, including a 16-2 margin in the second half. The Blue Streaks put six attempts on goal compared to two for Wabash and held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.
Halm finished with five shots, including three on goal, while Forkins led John Carroll with eight attempts. Sampson recorded two saves to earn the shutout.
