KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carthage College Red Men's soccer team defended their home turf Saturday, November 7th in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament championship game, defeating North Central College, 3-1, to earntheir second CCIW tournament title in program history and the CCIW's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Men's Soccer tournament.
 
"If you would have told me our team would be playing for the conference championship after graduating 17 quality men last year, I would have told you that is a nice but certainly a dream and goal," said men's soccer head coach Steve Domin.  "Truthfully I knew we would compete this year, but being hyper young I didn't think we would result as consistently."
 
With the win the Red Men return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011 and just the third time in program history.  The win also improves the Red Men to 11-5-3 overall in the 2015 season.
 
"The best thing about this Championship is that really everyone contributed in some way.  Some more late, some a ton early, but each time we put someone in they do something special.   And the other things is we get to be around each other for even more extended time."
 
Zach Schoffstall opened the scoring in the 17th minute as Austin Bitta played a ball to the corner for an oncoming Giles Phillips who slipped a pass across the top of the six-yard box to Schoffstall for a one-timer into the top of the empty net.
 
Domin stated, "Scoring first and early with a lot of possession, it started to feel like we were going to win this thing by a handful going away.  But as always in this league teams compete to the last whistle.  The CCIW is just so stacked, and it's a credit to the players and the coaches, and clearly Matt has done a great job with an equally tough schedule."
 
The Red Men extended their lead in the 46th minute following a foul against Ivan Chavez on the edge of the 18-yard box.  On the ensueing free kick, Chavez served a low in-swinger to the top of the six where Austin Bitta redirected it off the North Central defense and into the goal.
 
"Austin was everywhere today.  If he, Stefano Doloman and Ivan Chavez play well and keep their feet moving to our targeting spots we can compete with anyone," said Domin.
 
North Central got one back following a giveaway in the midfield by Carthage.  The Cardinals' Evan Landmark sent a cross from the right edge, which the Red Men missed a chance to clear, that found Ryan O'Deen.  O'Deen mishit a shot back across the mouth of the goal to Joey Faleni who sent it back across to O'Deen for the easy one-touch finish to cut the Red Men lead to 2-1.
 
North Central nearly made evened it up at 2-2 but freshman goalkeeper Niko Mavrogiannis made a diving save to his right to turn away the low shot for a corner kick. 
 
Domin noted, "North Central got a little dangerous at the end of the game sending so many people forward to get a goal, but Niko and Jake were up to the task."
 
Mavrogiannis finished with four saves on the night and was a menace to the North Central attack as he got to most high balls before NCC could garner a chance on at scoring opportunity.
 
Also hindering the NCC attack was the play of the Carthage defense that along with the aforementioned Giles Phillips, Jamie Tausend, Jake Bukiri and Shane Reilly rarly allowed any dangerous opportunities for the Cardinals to take quality shots.
 
Johnny Rimkus locked it up for the Red Men in the 80th minute when a ball over the top from Austin Bitta found a charging Rimkus who was able to chip it over the oncoming goalkeeper to the back post for the final goal of the match.  The play developed as Giles Phillips won two-consecutive headers to give the Red Men possession and Kevin Mahoney flicked it with a back-heel to Bitta before finding Rimkus.
 
"Johnny's goal was just what the doctor ordered," said the head coach.
 
Carthage will now wait to learn their fate Monday at 12:30 p.m. when the NCAA announces where the Red Men will play in the in the tournament.
 
"We do things a little differently, and we put kids in tough positions and they have to become men.  I am equally proud of how the guys have grown off the field, in our community and the classroom." Domin went on to say, "I am really proud of our staff and support group, and this all started in Colorado."