Jake Zivin's '07 call of game-winning goal (aif audio file/QuickTime)
Northfield, Minn. - Dylan Welch (Jr./San Francisco/French-American International School) scored a golden goal in the 91st minute to lift Carleton College to a 1-0 overtime victory over Macalester College.
The win clinched a first-ever MIAC playoff berth for Carleton (10-5-2, 7-2-1, MIAC) and snapped Macalester’s 43-game unbeaten streak. Macalester (11-1-5, 6-1-3 MIAC), who is ranked 10th in the nation, also had its 33-game MIAC unbeaten streak snapped.
The match was a defensive struggle in regulation, as possession was equally shared by both teams, neither of which was able to create any dangerous chances. The Scots outshot the Knights 5-1 in regulation, but none of Macalester's shots were any trouble for Carleton goalkeeper Yusi He (So./South Pasedena, Calif.). The shutout was her 10th of the season, which is tied for the lead among MIAC goalkeepers and a new Carleton single-season record.
Carleton's goal came just 40 seconds into the overtime period. Carleton stole the opening kickoff, and Nicky Bloom (So./Evanston, Ill.) quickly drew a foul 50 yards from goal. Sophie Wood (So./Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest) took the restart, playing a floating ball into Macalester’s penalty area, which Clare O’Connor (Jr./Madison Wis./Memorial) headed down to Welch, who struck a volley from eight yards out past Macalester goalkeeper Jenny Lee.The win ended Carleton’s 15-game losing streak to Macalester that dated back to 1990.
The Knights and the Scots are now tied for second place in the MIAC with one game remaining in conference play. If the two teams end the regular season in a tie, then Carleton will earn the second seed for the MIAC playoffs by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Carleton's win, coupled with Augsburg's loss to Gustavus Adolphus, left Carleton and Macalester tied in second place with 15 points. Thus, if Carleton can beat St. Olaf on Sunday then the worst that it can do is finish in a tie for second place with Macalester. Carleton would then host a MIAC semifinal match on Wednesday, November 3rd, likely against Macalester. However, there are still a wide range of scenarios that could play out this weekend, which could result in the Knights playing Augsburg or even MIAC champion and first seed Concordia-Moorhead.
The four-team MIAC playoffs start on Wednesday, November 1, with the top two teams hosting semifinal matches. The MIAC final will be played on Saturday, November 4, with the high seed hosting.
Carleton will finish its regular season on Sunday by playing at St. Olaf College. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Knights will then play in the MIAC semifinals on Wednesday, November 1 at a time and place to be determined by this weekend's results.
