NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Carleton College opened the 2009 season with a 3-0 setback, falling to Wartburg College, a program that has made six consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. In the process, Wartburg achieved something only one Carleton opponent has done over the last two-and-a-half seasons, win a regular-season contest at Bell Field.
“Hats off to Wartburg. They were really well prepared and played a great game,” said Carleton head coach Bob Carlson. “We were outplayed, but it’s early in the season. We learned some things about our team, and we’ll move forward.”
Nate Hedrington scored the first two goals for Wartburg, then Brandon Cook extended the lead with a header in the 58th minute.
Carleton keeper Pete Semmer (Jr./Del Mar, Calif./Bishop’s School) made eight saves, one shy of his career high.
How unusual is it for a Carleton defense to surrender three goals? No member of the team was enrolled at the school the last time it happened. The most recent opponent to find the back of the net three times against the Knights was the University of St. Thomas, which posted a 3-1 victory back on Sept. 27, 2005. In fact, Carleton has given up three goals only once in its previous 78 contests.
The Knights return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 5 at North Central College (Ill.)
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