KENOSHA, Wis. – For the second time in as many games the Carthage College Red Men fell in overtime despite a dominant advantage in shots in the match, Saturday falling to North Central College, 1-0, in overtime.
The loss in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener drops the Red Men to .500 on the season at 5-5-1 and 0-1 in the CCIW, while North Central improves to 4-5-1 and 1-0 in the CCIW.
Carthage controlled most of the possession in the game and created a number of opportunities with a 25-5 advantage in shots in regulation and a 25-7 edge in the match.
"I don't know if it's possible to be this good and not result, but it's happening a lot," said head coach
Steve Domin after the loss. "I don't want to even look at the numbers at the end of the game. If you play with fire you get burned, and that's what we got there at end against the run of play… It's hard to stomach the last few losses when we really own the game. Credit to North Central, they put one in when it mattered however."
Three of Carthage's best opportunities came in the first 20 minutes of second half of the loss. In the 49
th minute
Adrian Herrera had a penalty kick saved by Cardinals' goalkeeper Connor O'Neill following a foul drawn by
Jerry Patino in the box. The Red Men's second opportunity came in the 56
th minute as a strike by
Alexis Garcia hit the outside of the post and finally a cross of
Matt Rojel in the box sailed just over the crossbar in the 64
th minute.
The Red Men nearly got a late goal in regulation as
Alberto Eloyza brought a high cross down and ripped a shot to the top right corner, however O'Neill had perfect position to make the save.
The missed chances cost the Red Men as in the 103
rd minute a long ball by Sean Woodford found Gavin Sanchez on the backdoor, where Sanchez was able to beat goalkeeper
Niko Mavrogiannis for the 1-0 final.
Mavrogiannis made three saves in the loss.
"The ironic thing is this may be one of the best teams we have had here, and I like our fight. This will either make us stronger or pull us apart."
Next up for Carthage, the Red Men will hit the road and visit Wheaton College on Wednesday, October 4
th at 7:30 p.m.