The Carthage College men's soccer team (9-6-1, 2-2-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) defeated non-conference opponent St. Ambrose University (5-10-2), 5-2, on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at the Davenport Soccer Complex in Dubuque, Iowa. 

The Fighting Bees took an early lead on a goal by Adam Brockhaus at 16:00. Carthage scored twice in the final minute of the first period, the first goal by Marko Markovic (Jr., Niles, Ill./Park Ridge-Maine East), assisted by Mike Heika, and the other by Aleks Urosevic (Jr., Skokie, Ill./Wilmette-Loyola Academy), assisted by Tyler Peterson. 

Greg Pignataro (Jr. Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) scored, unassisted, at 47:00 second period to put the Red Men up by a 3-1 margin. St. Ambrose made it a 3-2 contest on a goal by Tony Villasenor at 80:00, but Carthage's Rafal Zalewski (Jr., Schiller Park, Ill./Franklin Park-East Leyden) scored twice in the final minute to close out the scoring at 5-2. Zalewski's first goal was assisted by Peterson and the second by Billy Hamilton. 

“Big, fast and physical is the best way to describe this game,” said Carthage coach Steve Domin. “Upfront, their forwards were as dangerous of players as we have seen all year, but our style was able to take advantage of their back line and their goalkeeping. Both teams rested some players which made for a high flying, entertaining game. We were pleased to get the result on the road in a back and forth match." 

Carthage travels to Naperville, Ill., on Sunday, Oct. 24 to take on CCIW-opponent North Central College (5-7-3, 0-3-1 CCIW) in a 1 p.m. contest at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.