Box Score The Carthage College men's soccer team (10-4-0, 1-2-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked sixth in the Oct. 9 National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire Central Region poll, lost to CCIW-opponent Augustana College (Ill., 6-5-2, 2-0-1 CCIW), 2-1, on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at Thorsen-Lucken Field in Rock Island, Ill. 

The loss, combined with North Central College's 4-3 loss in double-overtime to Wheaton College (Ill.) on Wednesday night, left the Red Men in a three-way tie for third place in the CCIW with North Central (8-5-0, 1-2-0) and North Park University (5-2-4, 0-0-2).  Conference teams accrue three points for a win and one point for a tie.  Carthage meets North Central on Saturday, Oct. 13 in a 7 p.m. contest at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Ill.
 
Carthage out-shot Augustana, 16-6, but Vikings goalkeeper Tyler Cowherd, this week's CCIW “Defensive Player of the Week” was the equalizer with eight saves, including three in a row in a crucial 11-second stretch between 72:26 and 72:37.  Following a scoreless first period, Augustana broke the tie with a goal at 63:18 by Nick Wolfe. 

After Cowherd rejected three-straight shots on goal by Mike Heika, Michael Dombrowski and Drew Liogas, the Vikings made it a 2-0 game at 77:48 on a header goal by Evan Johnson.  The Red Men got on the scoreboard at 83:15 when Michael Dombrowski (So., Johnsburg, Ill.) scored his eighth goal of the year, assisted by Shane Reilly. 
 
“We were a little unlucky,” said Carthage coach Steve Domin.  “For the second straight match, the opponents' keeper was the difference.  Tyler Cowherd had save after point-blank save.  There were a handful of plays where he made three saves in a row, coupled with a punt which led to an assist.  We take this incredibly personally, to be responsible defensively, and own the statistical battle.  It's frustrating when we own those battles, but come up short in the most important one.  We'll get back at it.”