ADA, Ohio – With one unified goal in their minds, the Carthage College men's soccer team (12-7-3, 4-2-1 CCIW) traveled to Ada, Ohio to take on Ohio Northern University (17-5-1, 8-1 OAC) in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship.
 
42-seconds into the game a corner kick by Austin Bitta turned into an own goal on OWU to give the Red Men the early 1-0 lead. The Polar Bears had their first response of the game in the 42nd minute when Patrick Sabol completed a header into the goal to tie the game 1-1.
 
After the half, Zach Schoffstall made a shot off a cross by Ivan Chaves to give Carthage the 2-1 lead in the 56th minute. Just a few minutes later, Austin Bitta beat two defenders in the box to take a shot and give Carthage a 3-1 lead over Ohio Northern. Schoffstall assisted on the score by Bitta in the 63rd minute.  
 
"Can't say enough about our middle guys and our will to win," stated head coach Steve Domin," Up, down, level we are fighters and talented."
 
The Polar Bears would respond just two minutes later in the 65th minute. Ohio Northern's Matt Kinkopf scored a goal from six yards out to shorten Carthage's lead to 3-2. However, the Polar Bears would not be able to connect with the goal for the remainder of the game. Carthage would win 3-2 and secure a spot in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship. The win is Carthage's first NCAA Tournament win in men's soccer program history.

"I wish everyone could feel like we do," said head coach Steve Domin, "It's not fair one group can be so high and another so low.  A ton of credit to Ohio Northern and their men as it is clear why they are a Championship level team."

The Red Men took 20 shots, seven of them on target, completed seven corner kicks and only committed one offside foul.
 
"It's ironic because a few teams have played long on us and it plays right into our strengths," Domin noted.
 
Niko Mavrogiannis completed three saves in the match and only allowed two goals. Ivan Chavez and Zach Schoffstall each recorded one assist in the match. Stefano Dolomas, Giles Phillips and Schoffstall each received a caution in the match.
 
The Red Men will travel to Dubuque, Iowa to take on No. 11 Loras College (14-4-1, 7-0 IIAC) on Sunday, Nov. 15th at 1 p.m. CDT.
 
"We get to stay together some more which is really what this is all about," said Domin.