COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. -- The Carleton College men’s soccer team fell to St John’s University (2-3-3, 1-1-1 in MIAC) in heartbreaking fashion Saturday, dropping the away clash 3-2 in the first period of overtime.
Daniel Bruckbauer’s game-winner sunk the Knights (3-2-2, 0-1-1 in MIAC), who had been flying high on a streak of four games undefeated and 250 consecutive minutes of shutout defense coming into the matchup.
The Knights took the lead when Kohl Sparrman (So./Apple Valley, Minn./Rosemount) got on the end of an Andrew Younkins (Fy./Beaverton, Ore./Westview) corner kick in the 25th minute. The forward redirected the pinballing cross past several defenders on the goal line for his fourth tally of the year.
A diving effort from St John’s goalie Nicholas French kept things close, diving to prevent a Younkins shot from reaching the net just minutes later.
Disciplined defending from Carleton’s back line kept Brandon Hilliard (Jr./Anoka, Minn./Totino Grace) idle most of the first half, but the stalwart goalie stayed alert, making the two saves required of him.
Carleton’s shutout streak ended 304 when St John’s struck in the 51st minute. Rocky Harmon’s clinical finish off a Zack Boerjan cross was the first time the Knights have conceded since their victory at Simpson on Sept. 7th.
Carleton’s Danny Leal (Sr./Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake) came within inches of answering back just seconds after the ensuing kickoff, but his shot rolled just wide of the post.
Memories of the near miss wouldn’t linger for long however, as Riley Phelps (Sr./Bowling Green, Ky./Bowling Green) brought the Knights back to life with an audacious strike from well outside the box to regain a 2-1 lead. The wonder strike made it five on the year for Phelps, leading the team.
In the 79th minute, St John’s produced a near carbon-copy of their first minute goal- only this time, the cross struck the arm of a Carleton defender and Justin DuQue converted from the spot to level the score at 2-2.
The Knights were undefeated across their previous three overtime clashes this year, but an early goal from Bruckbauer broke the visitors’ hearts with a goal in the 6th minute of overtime.
The three goals allowed against St John’s are hardly par for the course for a stingy Carleton defense that had only conceded three times all season.
Carleton hosts Bethel University at Bell Field on Tuesday Sept. 27, at 4 pm, looking to pick up their first MIAC win this season. A live video webcast will be available via Knights Online.
