ST. PETER, Minn. — One day after posting a victory in the opening round of the MIAC Playoffs, the Carleton College men’s soccer team was back on the pitch to take on a rested Gustavus Adolphus College squad in the semifinal match. The two teams tied for second place in the conference standings, and Wednesday’s match was a fairly even affair, a contest the Gusties won by a narrow 1-0 margin.
“The team fought hard and created a handful of chances, but it just wasn’t our day,” said Carleton head coach Bob Carlson. “Congratulations to Gustavus and good luck to them in their next match.”
While Gustavus (14-4-1) attempted more shots during the contest, Carleton possessed a 5-4 lead in shots on goal. The Knights (10-7-2) also attempted four corner kicks on the afternoon.
Carleton had the ball in the box a couple of times in the early going but was unable to knock the ball past Gustavus keeper Brett Ylonen.
The lone tally of the contest came in the 26th minute when Zach Brown finished off a service from Patrick Roth to the back post.
Keenan Smith (Sr./Madison, Wis./West) kept it a one-goal game with his save on an open shot by Charlie Adams in the 76th minute. Soon after, KC Onuoha-Onyekuru (So./The Woodlands, Texas/The John Cooper School) nearly notched the equalizer with his blast from the top of the box. That shot required the best of Ylonen’s five saves to preserve the shutout.
Today marked the final collegiate game for the five seniors on the Carleton roster: Smith, Jordy Cammarota (Neenah, Wis./Neenah), Shant Douzdjian (Portland, Ore./Riverdale), Will Schifeling (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis), and Devin Tomson-Moylan (St. Paul, Minn./Central).
“We say goodbye to five really important members of the Carleton soccer family,” said Carleton. I just want to say thanks for all their dedication, hard work, and efforts to keep this program strong.”
That group went 54-18-9 over their four seasons, leading the Knights to four postseason berths, two NCAA Championships appearances (2012 and 2013), two MIAC Regular-Season Championships (2011 and 2012), and a MIAC Playoff Championship in 2013.
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