NORTHFIELD, Minn. – On the strength of two goals and an assist—all in the first half—from senior Riley Phelps (Bowling Green, Ky./Bowling Green), the Carleton College men’s soccer team secured a 4-1 win over conference foe Bethel University on Tuesday.
The victory, Carleton’s first within the MIAC this season, puts them at 4-2-2 overall, with a 1-1-1 conference record.
Danny Leal (Sr./Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake) started things off for Carleton in the 29th minute with a composed finish to the lower left corner of the goal to cap a lightning-fast counterattack started by Phelps.
Just minutes later, Phelps stole the ball 30 yards out, dribbled inside the 18-yard box and slotted it past a diving Jakob Bartels.
The 2-0 lead is often said to be the most dangerous lead in sports, but Phelps quickly progressed the scoreline to 3-0, finding himself on the end of a Spencer Weeden (Fy./Stoughton, Wis./Stoughton) cross in the 39th minute.
A 50th minute goal from Bethel’s Carson Thomas pulled the visitors within reach, but thanks to Brandon Hilliard’s (Jr./Anoka, Minn./Totino Grace) work in goal and a strong defensive showing by the resilient Carleton back line, the Royals (5-4-1, 0-3-1 in MIAC) would get just the one.
Following a scramble in the box, Kohl Sparrman (So./Apple Valley, Minn./Rosemount) added an insurance goal for Carleton in the 86th minute, and the game would end 4-1.
Phelps now leads the team with seven goals, followed by Sparrman with five. Leal’s early goal was his third of the season.
Carleton goes on the road next this Saturday, Oct. 1, to play Gustavus Adulphus College in another MIAC clash at 3:30 p.m.
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