LIMA, Ohio – The Davenport men's soccer team is going back to the national stage.
 
Dzenan Catic's nation-leading 35^th goal of the season was all that was needed for the 10^th-ranked Panthers to defeat 17^th-ranked Northwestern Ohio 1-0 and clinch their fourth overall and second straight Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament championship on a cold Friday afternoon at Racer Field.
 
As the champion, the Panthers also receive the automatic bid to the NAIA National Opening Round beginning Saturday, Nov. 22. The NAIA will announce the pairings and location for the Opening Round Monday at 3 p.m. EST. The winners of the 32-team round will meet in Delray Beach, Fla., for the remaining portion of the tournament Dec. 1-6.
 
The lone goal of the match came in the 66^th minute. A loose ball bounced by Racer keeper Liam Davies and Catic reached for it and send it to the left side of the goal.
 
Davenport and Northwestern Ohio (15-4-1) had spent a majority of the match battling for possession. The Racers edged the Panthers in the shooting department 11-9 overall. Both teams had equal chances in corner kicks with five.
 
Davenport and Northwestern Ohio were mainly in a battle for possession throughout the opening half. The Racers put six shots on the board with Aaron Orban needing to make two. Tyler Fischer had the only shot for Davenport in the first half.
 
The Racers did not go down quietly after Catic's goal. UNOH saw a golden opportunity with a free kick in the Panthers zone just under five minutes to go. Davies left his goal box to send the free kick into the packed goal box but it was successfully cleared by Davenport.
 
The victory was also the 200^th in Chris Hughes' 12-year career as a head coach. Hughes is 200-62-23 which included 10 years at NCAA Division III Calvin and three at Davenport.
 
Post-Match Notes
Davenport University Athletics wins its 58^th overall team trophy…The men's soccer program clinched a WHAC championship – regular-season and tournament – for the sixth time…The Panthers remain undefeated against the Racers all-time, improving to 4-0-1
 
Men's Soccer Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-554-5045 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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