WINONA, Minn. — Senior Riley Phelps (Bowling Green, Ky./Bowling Green) scored 2:35 into the second overtime to lift the Carleton College men’s soccer team to a 2-1 road win over Saint Mary’s University on Saturday. The goal was Phelps’ ninth of the season, most in the MIAC.
While the Knights (9-5-3, 5-3-2 MIAC) had previously clinched a playoff berth, Saturday’s result secured the No. 4 seed and a home game in the opening round. Carleton will host fifth-seeded Saint John’s University at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov 1.
Carleton will be making its 10th consecutive trip to the postseason, the longest active streak in MIAC men’s and women’s soccer. This was also the Knights 11th straight top-four finish in the MIAC standings.
"Our seniors were terrific today,” said Carleton head coach Bob Carlson. “Peter, Danny, RIley, and Alex were dangerous in the attack, and Kevin and KC anchored the back line. We missed Charles due to injury, but the seniors’ leadership earned the team a vital three points.”
Cardinal attacker Sean Butcher nearly shocked the Knights with a shot from distance in the 12th minute. The long-range effort clattered off the crossbar and away from danger. Carleton picked up the pace, and nearly got on the board several times around the 25th minute. Danny Leal (Sr./Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake) muscled his way into the box, but was thwarted by SMU goalie Nate Levy, and Kohl Sparrman (So./Apple Valley, Minn./Rosemount) saw his shot from the top right corner of the box miss narrowly wide of goal just moments later.
It seemed that Saint Mary’s might escape the first half unscathed, but sophomore Trevor Freeland (So./Dekalb, Ill./Dekalb) found the net for his first collegiate goal in the 44th minute. Alex Griese (Sr./Melbourne, Fla./Hun School of Princeton) sent Freeland through on goal, and Freeland slid send the ball past an onrushing Levy and put the Knights up, 1-0.
Despite outshooting the Cardinals 7-3 during the second half, the Knights surrendered the equalizer to Jared Wolt following a corner kick in the 72nd minute.
Regulation expired with the score at one apiece, and Saint Mary’s was forced to play a man down in the 96th minute when Robbie Sobczak was sent off. The Cardinals were able to force a second overtime, but in the 103rd minute another infraction ended their season.
Carleton midfielder Adam Pearson (So./Rockford Ill./Rockford Lutheran) sent a cross into the box and Phelps was fouled. Playing his final regular-season game as a Knight, Phelps stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted home the penalty kick.
Carleton finished the contest with a 22-7 advantage in shots and a 6-1 margin in corner kicks. Brandon Hilliard (Jr./Anoka, Minn./Totino Grace) finished with three saves for the Knights while Levy was forced to make a career-high 13 stops.
Knights Online will provide live video/stats of the MIAC Playoff quarterfinal match on Tuesday.
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