NAPERVILE, Ill. – The Carleton College men’s soccer team absorbed its second loss of the season, dropping a 3-2, double-overtime decision at North Central College (Ill.). Trailing 2-1 late in regulation, the Knights’ Ross Hamilton (Sr./Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) tallied the equalizer in the 88th minute to force overtime.
Carleton had numerous chances to get on the scoreboard, out-shooting North Central 28-12 in a physical contest that resulted in a whopping 42 fouls being called.
The Knights finally broke through in the 26th minute as Ryan Cammarota (So./Neenah, Wis.) slipped the ball past the Cardinal defense to Wes Elfman (Jr./Madison, Wis./Edgewood), who scored Carleton’s first goal of the season.
The Knights got off eight more shots over the remainder of the half but were unable to pad their lead.
Almost immediately after intermission, North Central drew even. After a foul in the box, the Cardinals were awarded penalty kick. Carleton netminder Pete Semmer (Jr./Del Mar, Calif./Bishop’s School) blocked the initial shot off the foot of Micah Melendrez, but the Cardinal forward collected the rebound and knocked it through, tying the score 1-1.
It appeared like the Cardinals may get the win with a late goal as Pete Zimmerman notched his first goal of the season in the 86th minute.
The Knights, however, responded on Hamilton’s clutch score moments later. Brett Adelman (Sr./Westminster, Colo./Legacy) played a beautiful ball to Hamilton who drove toward the goal and fired over North Central keeper Phillip Klipp.
In the first bonus period, the Knights had four of chances to end the contest but one shot was blocked and Klipp stopped the other three.
Early in the second overtime, Carleton defender Courtney Morris (Jr./Lafayette, N.J./Taft School) was sent off after receiving a red card. That set up Melendrez with another free kick, which he scored from just outside the penalty area.
“In the first half it seemed like we did everything except get the ball in the goal,” said Carleton head coach Bob Carlson. “We had chances to extend the lead but couldn’t finish. It was a great comeback to get the late equalizer, but it wasn’t to be on this day.”
The Knights return and must re-group before beginning defense of the MIAC title when they travel to Concordia College-Moorhead for the conference opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m.
NOTE:
Here's further proof of how magical the 2008 NCAA tourney run was for the men's soccer team, the Knights gave up a grand total of seven goals all last season in 22 games. In the first week of action in 2009, opponents have scored six times.
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