NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Alvin Bierley (Fy./Santa Cruz, Calif/Leland) started the MIAC portion of the season off with a bang for the Carleton College men’s soccer team, smashing home an eye-popping laser in the second minute of overtime to propel the Knights to a 1-0 victory over visiting Gustavus Adolphus College.
Andy Younkins (So./Beaverton, Ore./Westview) tallied the assist, delivering a corner kick to Bierley standing 15 yards from the goal line. The rookie’s one-touch volley tucked into the upper right corner.
“Before the overtime we talked as a team about how it needed to be a collective effort, and that someone needed to make a play. Andy and Alvin both made that play for us,” said Carleton head coach Bob Carlson.
The Knights (5-1-0, 1-0 MIAC) notched their fifth clean sheet of the young season, four of which belong to goalkeeper Brandon Hilliard (Sr./Anoka, Minn./Totino Grace). While it was a quiet afternoon for Hilliard overall, the three-year starter came up big just minutes into the second half to save a Matt Murakami shot from the top of the box.
The Knights benefitted from strong defensive play all game, allowing only two shots on target. Kamran Kelly (So./St. Paul, Minn./Central) put in a strong shift at center back, and Younkins, who was making his season debut, was a force in the midfield all game.
The final stats demonstrate how tightly-contested the match was as the shots were even at 10-10 before Bierley’s golazo. Both teams attempted four corner kicks, and the squads were just one apart in fouls.
The victory marks the first time the Knights have opened up conference play with a win since a 2-1 triumph over Saint John’s in 2011.
Carleton will look to build on its early MIAC success this Saturday, Sept. 16 at conference rival Hamline University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
-------------------
