NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College men’s soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw against regionally-ranked rival Macalester College.
The Knights (5-1-1, 0-1-1 MIAC) outshot the visiting Scots (4-2-2, 1-0-1 MIAC) by a margin of 26-10, however they were unable to find the winning goal after 110 minutes of intense action at Bell Field.
In the first half, Carleton came away with the much better chances and were unlucky to not take a lead into the break. William Lanzillo (Sr./Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) was responsible for creating many of these, highlighted by a low shot in the 36th minute which hit the right post and stayed out of the net. A cross from Lanzillo in the 37th minute found Spencer Weeden (Jr./Stoughton, Wis./Stoughton) for a diving header that forced a sprawling save from the Macalester keeper.
In the second half Weeden quickly made a difference when he was fouled inside of the box while going up for a header in the 51st minute, drawing a penalty kick. Adam Pearson (Sr./Rockford, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) took the kick for the Knights, and he calmly slotted the ball into the side netting for the first goal of the game.
The Scots found their equalizer in the 60th minute also from the penalty spot when Jamel Benhamida converted for the visitors. As the clock ticked closer and closer to overtime, Carleton keeper Aaron Forman (So./Los Angeles, Calif./Windward) came up with a huge save in the 89th minute, getting his fingertips on a point-blank header from Webster An, ensuring the game would head to extras.
Both defenses dug in during overtime, and neither side were able to find any openings during the tense final 20 minutes. The Knights out-shot the visitors, 5-0, over the two overtimes.
Forman led the strong effort for the Knights defensively, coming up with five saves and countless crosses defended.
Up next for Carleton will be a non-conference home game against the College of St. Scholastica on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 4:00 p.m. Knights Online will feature live video and stats for the contest.
