NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Despite out-shooting the hosts, 12-5, a late goal from Danny Leal (Jr./Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake) was all the scoring the Carleton College men’s soccer team could muster in in dropping a 2-1 result to North Central (Ill.) College in the season lid-lifter for both squads.
The Cardinals (1-0) broke through with a header goal from Karl Bappert in the 26th minute. The Knights (0-1) came out firing in the second half, taking eight shots over the final 45 minutes.
Peter Passalino (Jr./Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) nearly tallied the equalizer when he struck the post with a shot in the 73rd minute. After dodging that bullet, North Central added a second score, this one from Chandler Olah in the 80th minute.
Leal finally got the Knights on the scoreboard with his unassisted goal in the 86th minute. Passalino had the final scoring chance for either team, but his attempt sailed high with less than two minutes remaining.
The Knights will play three of their next four matches on the re-surfaced Bell Field, beginning with a 4 p.m. contest versus UW-Whitewater on Friday, Sept. 4.
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