Big Red athletic programs enjoyed an unprecedented fall haul.
Never had Denison won four regular-season fall sports conference championships since joining the North Coast Athletic Conference in 1984. But the Big Red wrapped up an outstanding autumn by winning outright titles in women’s soccer and volleyball and sharing the honors in field hockey and men’s soccer.
Men’s soccer
The Big Red followed a strong regular season with a historic tournament run. They won three NCAA games in one postseason for the first time and knocked out the nation’s top-ranked team, the University of Mary Washington, 1-0 in the Sweet Sixteen.
Zarius Eusebe ’26 delivered the goal of the season, heading home a Kameron Kist ’26 free kick in double overtime to send the Big Red into the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time since 1979. The season, which ended with a 2-1 loss to Connecticut College, marked Denison’s third trip to the NCAA in the past four years, a fitting sendoff to the Class of 2025.
“This senior class has changed the trajectory of the program in many ways,” said coach Brandon Bianco, in his fifth season with the program.
Jake Krueger ’25 capped a fine career with 14 goals, emerging as one of the conference’s top offensive talents. Ben Goeller ’25 had a terrific season leading the team’s midfield.
Denison finished 15-2-6 overall and 6-0-2 in the NCAC.
Women’s soccer
Overcoming adversity was the theme of the season. The Big Red won the conference under second-year coach Sarah Brink despite losing four players to serious knee injuries. Center backs Kate Dalimonte ’25 and Sarah Sollinger ’26 anchored a defense that allowed a league-low 0.29 goals against average.
Mara McGlone ’27 joined Dalimonte and Sollinger as first-team NCAC selections. Brink and her assistants earned league coaching staff of the year honors. Denison was 10-5-3 overall and 5-1-1 in the conference.
Volleyball
Denison won its second NCAC title in program history, fulfilling a promise players made to themselves in the summer.
“At the beginning of the year, they set a goal of winning the conference championship, and they really held themselves accountable to that,” said coach Carter Cassell, in his seventh season. Setter Alice Kempf ’26 and outside hitter Claire Hamilton ’27 were named first-team NCAC. Cassell and his assistants earned the league’s coaching staff of the year award. Denison was 13-14 overall and 6-1 in conference play.
Field hockey
The Big Red won seven consecutive games to reach the conference final. Emma Gebhart ’27 was named NCAC Offensive Player of the Year, leading the conference with 15 goals, and Tabitha Chandler ’27 earned NCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, helping limit conference opponents to five goals in 10 games.
Denison was 11-7 overall and 9-1 in NCAC action.
Football
The Big Red finished with a 6-4 record, marking their 11th consecutive winning season.
In 2024, they said goodbye to a program legend and hello to a dynamic playmaker. Trey Fabrocini ’25 became Denison’s all-time leading rusher with 4,475 yards, the third-highest mark in NCAC history.
Meanwhile, first-year quarterback Tyler Green ’28 threw for 2,233 yards and 22 touchdowns in becoming one of the conference’s top newcomers.
Women’s cross-country
Jane McNamara ’28 earned NCAC Newcomer of the Year honors, finishing 18th in the conference meet. Fiona Martinelli ’27 was Denison’s top finisher, placing 15th.
Overall, the Big Red was fifth, two spots higher than 2023.
Men’s cross-country
The team lost its top two runners to injury, but Nathan Bertman ’25 had a strong showing in the conference meet, finishing 22nd. Hudson Jones ’28 placed 37th.
