ELMHURST, Ill. – The No. 22-ranked Carleton College men’s soccer team tallied a 1-0 triumph in the season lid-lifter after defeating College of Wooster (Ohio) in a neutral-site competition. All-American defender Neil Bartholomay (Sr./St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) blasted home the game winner early in the second half.
“It wasn’t pretty, but it was a gritty performance,” said Carleton head coach Bob Carlson. “We had to hold on there at the end against a very good Wooster squad.
“There was not a lot of possession for us and not a lot of scoring chances. There’s certainly a lot to work on.”
After a first half that saw only five combined shots, with just two of those on frame, the Knights broke through barley 90 seconds into the second period. Off a corner kick, Will Corcoran (Sr./Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi) delivered a good drive into the box. After a scramble in front, the ball ended up at Bartholomay’s feet, and the senior captain smashed it home for his eighth career score.
Solid work by the Carleton back line limited the number of scoring chances for the Fighting Scots, and James Neher (Sr./Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi) registered two saves in recording his 11th career shutout.
The Knights face Elmhurst College on Sunday, Sept. 1 with the match slated for a 2 p.m. start.
