NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Tim Wills (So./Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) scored the first goal and assisted on two others as the Carleton College men’s soccer team posted a 3-0 victory over visiting Macalester College.
The victory—Carleton’s fourth straight and sixth in seven contests—keeps the Knights (6-3-1, 4-1 MIAC) atop the conference standings. Meanwhile, Macalester (5-5-1, 2-1 MIAC) suffered its first setback during league play.
The all-time series between these programs is now tied 16-16-7. Carleton is 3-0-2 over the five meetings with a 10-2 goal differential in those contests.
The teams spent the majority of the time fighting for control in the midfield, but in
the 24th minute, Wills was opportunistic in notching his sixth score of the year and his third gamewinner. The ball was dribbled into the box, deflected past the Scots netminder Mark Mulaney, and Wills tipped in it from the doorstep.
Carleton padded its lead with another score five minutes later following some beautiful combination play featuring a series of quick passes. After a heel-flicked ball behind the defense, Miles Silbert (So./St. Louis Park, Minn.) unleashed a shot to the lower right corner and found pay dirt for his second goal in as many contests. Wills and senior Brett Adelman (Westminster, Colo./Legacy) were each credited with an assist.
Wills and Adelman combined for the final tally in the 87th minute. Following a quick start off a free kick, Wills brought the ball along the goal line from the left side. When Mulaney tried to take away the angle, Wills passed across the goal mouth to the feet of a streaking Adelman, who deposited his third goal of the year into the back of the net.
“I thought that early we played really well, moved the ball around, and finished our chances,” said Carleton head coach Bob Carlson. “In the second half, Macalester really came at us. But after setting down, we were able to generate more counter attack chances.
“Our backline was rock solid against Mac, which has some really good attacking players.”
The Knights enjoyed a 13-7 edge in shot attempts, and once again the defense came up strong. After surrendering six goals over the first two matches of the season, the Knights defense has now yielded only three scores over the last seven games. Goalkeeper Pete Semmer (Jr./Del Mar, Calif./Bishop’s School) recorded five saves to post his third shutout of the campaign. At the other end of the pitch, Mulaney posted three stops.
The Knights final conference home game of the season is Sat., October 3 versus Saint John’s University at 1 p.m. Knights Online will feature a video webcast of that contest.
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