KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carthage College Red Men's soccer team won a see-saw battle Saturday, October 17th at Art Keller Field against Augustana College, 5-3.
 
The win keeps Carthage amidst the top of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin at 3-1 in the conference and 9-5-1 overall.  Additionally, the nine wins so far this season equals the number of wins from a season ago with four regular season matches remaining.
 
"This one really had a feel we were going to win in a landslide after being up 3-0 in the first 35 minutes, coupled with a host of chances we rattled off their woodwork and ultimately pressuring their keeper into uncomfortable save after save" said head men's soccer coach Steve Domin following the match.

Carthage jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first half with goals by Giles Phillips in the second minute of play from Jake Bukiri and Sahr Mahoney, a direct free kick in the fourth minute by Austin Bitta, and then a one-touch finish by Nick Vogel from Ivan Chavez and Bitta in the 34th minute.
 
Carthage would see the lead cut to two by the end of the first half as Augustana's Samuel Kratzer hit a miraculous strike that beat the diving Evan Bott in the 39th minute.

"Late in the first half we made some whole sale changes and we lost a little bit of our rhythm," noted Domin.  "We really weren't playing all that poorly but started to lose the midfield a touch and Augustana found a ball about 25 yards out and we conceded a goal on beautiful strike upper 90.  3-1 and now we have a game."
 
Carthage would struggle to regain the momentum from early in the first half as following a penalty kick in the 57th minute, the Vikings would find a way to tie it at 3-3 following a Red Men defensive miscue in the 70th minute. 

"The second half we didn't stick to our game plan, and Augie started to throw and extra ordinary number of players forward.  On a ensuing corner kick we were flagged for a PK and suffered in a back pass which was picked off yielding some real excitement." 
 
But just as Carthage has done so many times before this season, the Red Men would use some late magic to steal this one back and earn the win. 
 
Domin stated, "We were really able to find feet more regularly once they got a couple errant looks and started to flip the field leading to more opportunities, and a different will in our men."

Following a scrum in the penalty box, a shot by the Carthage attack found the arm of a Vikings defender and a penalty kick was awarded. Bukiri would step-up and finish the PK to give the Red Men the 4-3 lead in the 85th minute.
 
With Augustana pressuring and putting almost everyone up on the attack in the final minute, Giles Phillips would send a long clearance which found Michael Modesti who would take it to the touchline and send a cross to a waiting Shane Reilly to put the match away at 5-3.

"We are on a little bit of a hang-over from a high energy match vs. Wheaton, and everyone has to realize this is a very very strong league and nobody is going to simply go away."
 
The Red Men continue their season Wednesday, October 21st at Art Keller Field at 7:30 p.m. when Carthage faces the #24 North Park University.  The match will be played as the second part of a soccer doubleheader, with the Lady Reds facing North Park at 5:00 p.m.