WENHAM, Mass. – It took 101 minutes and a bit of luck but at the end of the day the Carthage College Red Men men's soccer team defeated their toughest opponent todate on the young season with a 2-1 overtime win over Gordon College Saturday in the finale of the North Shore Invitational.
 
The win improves the Red Men to 3-0 on the season, the best start by the men's soccer program since head coach Steve Domin's rookie season in 1995 when Carthage started 6-0.
 
"It's interesting because some people are talking about starting 3- 0 on the road for the first time in a handful of years, which is significant, but really means very little to us in the big picture," said head coach Steve Domin.  "Each year we aim to play the toughest schedule in America which includes DI and DII schools, and really NCAA Tournament and Top 10 type teams at the start of the year and sometimes leads to mixed results.   This year was no exception as we played three National Tournament teams from a year ago, two of which made deep runs."
 
Gordon took an early lead as Matt Gordon finished a ball that was slipped through the backline of the Carthage defense by Tyler Modzeleski to beat Carthage goalkeeper Evan Bott in the 21st minute.
 
"Last year we got dubbed as the Cardiac Kids, and that helped us this weekend.  Frankly today seemed like it could have turn into a laugher with us buzzing the tower so much early and surrender no shots.  But like most matches, if you don't score it leaves room for doubt.   And Gordon was able to find the back of the net on the only shot on goal in the first half for them.  Such is the sport of Soccer.  Credit them still as they had a lot of home field fight."
 
It was all that Gordon would manage to get past the sophomore keeper who earned his first win of the season in his first start since suffering an injury last season.  Bott finished with two saves in the game as once again the backline stood strong against the oppositions attack.
 
Carthage had a number of opportunities in the first half to draw level but the Gordon defense and goalkeeper Josh Spoonhour managed to turn every opportunity by the Red Men away.
 
Carthage would continue to force the pressure in the second half and it wasn't until the 72nd minute that Carthage finally was able to find the back of the net.  Sophomore captain Kevin Mahoney cracked a volley from the top of the 18-yard box that beat Spoonhour to the left side of the frame for the equalizer.
 
"I am most proud of how we battled back with such efficiency under difficult circumstances," noted the head coach.  "Three games in three days is unheard of at this distance.  We have been spreading the minutes out and today it really helped late in the game."
 
For Mahoney it is his team leading third goal of the season and second straight game he has scored after putting two in Friday night.
 
Despite continued pressure by the Red Men, it was the Fighting Scots that nearly stole a win in the final minutes of the game as Gordon's Jerry Williams missed a point-blank tap-in from two yards out by sailing it over the cross bar.
 
Time after time it was Carthage that created chances but Gordon managed to turn the Red men away each time through the end of regulation and the first overtime period.  In the match, Carthage outshot Gordon 21-9, including 8-3 on target.

"Giles Phillips was the man of the match tonight, simply winning the head ball battles and shutting down many attacks along with Jamie Tausend to his right…It was nice to get Kevin Mahoney back on the field again after missing the first game of the season.  He simply mopped up and deserves recognition as the Player of this Tournament. "

Phillips, Mahoney and Tausend were honored as the three Red Men on the 2016 North Shore Invitational All-Tournament Team.
 
Then, less than a minute into the second overtime period, Juan Marban collected a ball to the left of the 18 and swung a cross in the was headed on by Jeff Montemeyer to Freddy Martinez inside the six, which Martinez headed in for the golden goal.
 
Domin closed saying, "We are excited the guys won this prestigious yearly event however there is no time off.  Once we get back we will face our fourth NCAA and Conference Champion team in Lake Forest."
 
For Martinez it was his first career goal.
 
The win concludes a ten day trip to the Boston, Massachusetts area as the Red Men will now return home to host Lake Forest College in Carthage's home opener, Wednesday, September 7th at 7:00 p.m. at Art Keller Field.