KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carthage College men's soccer team saw their season come to an end Saturday evening, as Benedictine University upset the Red Men in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship in double overtime, 2-1.
 
"I didn't see myself sitting here right now thinking about our season as a whole yet," said head coach Steve Domin following the defeat.  "I want to say though, as the host institution and the host team, I feel tremendous about what is happening here.  I feel the tournament has been first class.  We were glad to get to host this event and really felt good about where we were after an 11 or 12 game winning streak.  We liked our chances here and to lose a game in the last minute or two of double overtime is tough to stomach.  But right now my mind goes to a season in total that saw a conference championship, a conference tournament championship and the three quality seniors in Austin Bitta, Connor Hogan and Justin Luna."
 
Carthage, who entered the tournament as the nation's number-seven team, ends their season at 18-4 while winning the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin regular season and tournament titles.
 
The CCIW Player of the Year opened the scoring early as a penalty kick just three minutes in gave Carthage a 1-0 advantage.
 
The lead was short lived however, as in the ninth minute a series of misplayed passes and clearances allowed the ball to get through the Carthage backline and onto the foot of Erik Stammer who was able to beat Brayan Arce Justiniano in a one-on-one to even the match.
 
Despite outshooting the Eagles 31-10 in the match, Carthage couldn't find the back of the net a second time as Bitta cracked one from 35 yards out off the crossbar and the Benedictine defense cleared another possible winner away.
 
After a scoreless first 18 minutes of overtime, Benedictine got a lucky break and earned a penalty kick in the 109th minute of the match which gave the Eagles the golden goal victory.
 
Benedictine advances to face UW-Whitewater whom defeated Hanover College in the second game of the night.