NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- A pair of late goals pushed the Carleton College men’s soccer team past Augsburg, 3-1, on Saturday in a hard-fought conference match between two teams that entered the day tied for fourth in the MIAC.
The game began with a display of power from the home team, as the Knights, led by Sam Hayward (Jr./Stanford, Calif./Gunn) and Branden McGarrity (Jr./Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) put Augsburg keeper Nick Lenertz to the test with a barrage of seven shots in the first twenty minutes of play.
Carleton, however, fell behind first, in the 31st minute, when a Knights defender knocked an incoming Augsburg corner kick into the own net for an own goal.
The Knights assault, however, paid off shortly before intermission. Will Schifeling (Sr./Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) harpooned an airborne cross from Stephen Johnson (So./Edina, Minn./Edina) past Lenertz to knot the score at 1-1.
After halftime, the Knights’ attack became calmer and more collected. Their shot total climbed steadily, eventually reaching 16. The Knights defense, meanwhile, successfully contained the Auggies’ potent attack, permitting only two shots in the second half—and only five overall.
Nevertheless, the Knights struggled to convert their opportunities into points. Jordan Cammarota (Sr./Neenah, Wis./Neenah) continued his clutch play and finally broke the deadlock with an 86th-minute goal that kept the Knights from needing a third consecutive overtime game. This was his fifth game-winner of the season.
In the closing seconds of the game, McGarrity, ran onto a looping pass from by Kevin Doyle (So./Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) and scored a long-range insurance goal.
The result of the contest pushed Carleton past Augsburg in MIAC standings and into a tie with St. Thomas for third I the conference. The Knights will visit Macalester College on Tuesday, Oct. 14 for a primetime match.
