NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton men’s soccer team needed some extra time, but the Knights eventually pulled out a 2-1 victory over Hamline University in double overtime. Sophomore Tim Wills (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) scored the first goal early in the second half and then assisted on the game winner. Carleton (5-3, 3-1 MIAC) posted its third straight victory and fifth in the last six tries and currently sit alone atop the MIAC standings with nine points.
For much of the afternoon, Hamline was content to sit back and play defense with nine or ten, and sometimes even all 11 players behind the ball. That allowed Carleton to generate a 32-5 advantage in shot attempts but only nine of the tries by the Knights were on goal.
"I thought we moved the ball round really well. We did everything possible to unlock the Hamline defense that did a great job of marking us," said Carleton head coach Bob Carlson. "It was very satisfying to get the game winner in dramatic fashion."
After a scoreless first 45 minutes, the Knights broke the tie with a goal in the 48th minute. Carleton worked the ball in close, and Ryan Cammarota (So./Neenah, Wis.) sent a low cross in front of the net. Piper defender Moe Tageldin got a toe on the pass but was unable to finish the clearance, allowing Wills to sneak in and knock the ball past netminder Zach Nelson from less than two yards away. It was Wills’ team-best fifth of the campaign.
Hamline (4-5-1, 0-2-1 MIAC) found the equalizer in the 64th minute when Tageldin’s shot from about 40 yards away snuck into the bottom left corner.
Moments later it appeared Carleton would regain the momentum when Hamline’s Matt Warhol was sent off with a red card at 69:27, forcing the visitors to play the balance of the match with only 10 men on the pitch.
Cammarota had a great chance to end the contest late in the first overtime, but his shot to the far post trickled just wide.
Less than three minutes into the second bonus period, Wes Elfman (Jr./Madison, Wis./Edgewood) sent a corner kick into the box where Wills headed it forward. Miles Silbert (So./St. Louis Park, Minn.) then re-directed the ball home for his third goal of the season.
Carleton keeper Pete Semmer (Jr./Dal Mar, Calif./Bishop’s School) faced only two shots on goal, with neither coming in overtime.
Carleton hosts Macalester College on Wed., September 30 and Saint John’s University on Sat., Oct. 3 in a pair of important conference matchups this week. Video webcasts of both matches will be carried on Knights Online.
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