NORTHFIELD, Minn. – In defeating visiting Concordia College, 2-0, the Carleton College men’s soccer team lived out the mantra that “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take” as the Knights attempted a season-high 33 shots during the match.
The victory was the Knights’ third consecutive in conference play, moving them into fourth place in the MIAC standings at the halfway point in the schedule.
During the opening half, Carleton knocked and knocked at the goal, out-shooting the Cobbers, 21-1. The Knights also took all seven corner kicks of the scoreless period. Despite all that action in the final third, the Knights could still not muster a goal. The deadlock was nearly broken in the 33rd minute when Branden McGarrity (Sr./Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) struck the crossbar. Two other times, Concordia defenders had to assist goalkeeper Ben Glogoza with clearances off the line.
Carleton broke finally broke through in the 57th minute when Riley Phelps (Jr./Bowling Green, Ky./Bowling Green) finished a header for his first collegiate goal. Trent Elmore’s (Sr./Bloomington, Ind./Phillips Exeter Academy) long throw-in was headed on by Sam Hayward (Sr./Stanford, Calif./Gunn) to Phelps, who beat his marker to the top of the six-yard box.
Carleton kept looking for the insurance goal, and it finally arrived in the 84th minute. A combination of quick passes by McGarrity and Phelps led to the latter sending a low cross from the left side to Stephen Johnson (Sr./Edina, Minn./Edina), running unmarked toward the far post for the tap-in goal, his first tally of the season.
Brandon Hilliard (So./Anoka, Minn./Totino Grace) registered three saves in posting his conference-best fifth shutout of the season.
Carleton travels to Hamline University for a 4:00 p.m. match on Wednesday, Oct. 14. A link to live video/stats will be available via Knights Online.
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