Box Score The Carthage College men's soccer team (13-5-2, 5-1-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked fourth in the Nov. 1 National Soccer Coaches Association Central Region poll and the top seed in the CCIW Men's Soccer Tournament, defeated fourth-seeded Elmhurst College (8-7-4, 3-2-2 CCIW), 4-3, on Wednesday night, Nov. 2 in a semifinal game at Art Keller Field in Kenosha, Wis. 

Second-seeded North Park University (11-2-3, 4-2-1 CCIW) edged third-seeded Wheaton College (Ill., 10-8-2, 4-2-1 CCIW), 2-1, in the other semifinal contest at the Holmgren Athletic Complex in Chicago.  Carthage will play host to North Park in the tournament-championship game on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m., also at Art Keller Field.
 
Carthage took a 1-0 first-half lead on a goal by Jordan Innis (Jr., Lake in the Hills, Ill./Crystal Lake-South), assisted by Rafael Zalewski at 14:54.  Much of the second half was played in a driving rain.  Elmhurst tied the game, 1-1, at 70:57 on unassisted goal by Matt Sterner, his 10th of the year.  The Red Men re-gained the lead, 2-1, at 77:37 on a goal by Billy Hamilton (So., Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator), his fourth of the year and assisted by Mike Heika.  The Bluejays came right, less than a minute later, when Sterner scored his goal to re-tie the game at 2-2. 

Elmhurst took a 3-2 lead at 83:20 on a goal by Austin Haas, his fifth of the year, and assisted by Sterner.  Carthage made it a 3-3 game at 87:04 when Rafal Zalewski (Sr., Schiller Park, Ill./Franklin Park-East Leyden) scored his fourth goal of the season, unassisted.  The Red Men's Michael Dombrowski (Fr., Johnsburg, Ill.) scored the game-winning goal at 93:15 in overtime, his 10th goal of the year and assisted by Dylan Tucker. 

“They call me the 'Super Sub,' the spark off the bench,” said Dombrowski.  “I enjoy being a freshman.  It's good to see how the game's going before I get to go in.  It helps me understand, helps me play better.”  “Truth be told,” said Carthage coach Steve Domin, “when we were down 3-2 with four minutes left, you start thinking about end-of-the-year speeches, loving your seniors and all that stuff.  One of the boys on the sideline just yelled, 'We're not done playing yet.'” (courtesy of the Kenosha News) 

“Had you been able to look into the future, and told me this would have been another barn-burner,” continued Domin, “I don't think I would have been all that surprised.   We have found unique ways to win all year.  In the last two or three matches we have been in a couple tights spots and ultimately took advantage of every minute available to us.  While we certainly don't want to be in that situation all the time, it's nice to know we can do it regularly.  We were able to score several times in the elements, into a fierce wind and rain which escalated to the point in the second half to where we were essentially running and kicking uphill.  I think the conditions had a lot to do with the game, and I am proud our guys.  We were down but never out, and we're really starting to catch fire.  You have to give a handful of credit to Elmhurst, as they simply did not quit.  With us having the run of play in the first half and a lead, they could have packed it in.  Elmhurst made a nice run at the end of the year, and it's apparent how they were a regionally-ranked team.  Every team in this league is so strong, nobody is going to say mercy--that's what I love about athletics at this level.”