KENOSHA, Wis. - #22 Carthage College held on for an opening win in the 2017 Battle on the Border Friday night as Red Men soccer defeated the Hope College Flying Dutchmen at Art Keller Field, 2-1.
 
The win moves Carthage to 3-0 overall on the season, while Hope falls to 1-2.
 
"Today was a solid win versus one of Michigan's traditional powerhouses in soccer," said head coach Steve Domin.  Earning a result against MIAA schools is never easy… Although the math on paper looked like we owned everything, it really was an entertaining soccer match.  Frankly, we put a few more balls in maybe Hope just goes away.  That's College Soccer."
 
Carthage controlled much of the first half with a 6-1 advantage in shots in the first 45-minutes but only forced one save from a shot on target, allowing Hope to hold the Red Men to a 0-0 tie at halftime.
 
The Red Men were able to break the tie in the 57th minute as junior captain Kevin Mahoney took on a hope defender in the Flying Dutchmen penalty box and was taken down and awarded a penalty kick.  Mahoney stepped up and slotted it to the left of the keeper give Carthage a 1-0 lead.
 
Ten minutes later the Red Men were on the receiving end of a fortunate bounce, as Matt Rojel played a service ball from midfield into the box, which was redirected by a Hope defender past diving the goalkeeper, Blair McCormick, for an own goal.
 
Domin noted, "The numbers may not show it, but Ivan Esquivel, A.J. Abara, Matt Rojel and Freddy Martinez had really good days.  We aren't there yet by any means.   We have a lot of combinations unexplored and a few really talented guys we haven't even got in to a match yet.  I wouldn't be paying attention if I didn't mention Niko's effort in the waning minutes.  Teams always push so hard at the end of games and throw numbers forward and he covered the back line well tonight."
 
The aforementioned Niko Mavrogiannis earned his second win of the season behind one save and four key 50-50 ball wins off his line in the final 15 minutes. 
 
Hope applied late pressure on the Red Men in the final ten minutes as they cut the lead to 2-1 on a goal by Christian Dault in the 83rd minute.
 
Carthage finished the game with a 14-5 advantage in shots with a 4-2 edge on target.
 
Late chances by Leo Mendoza, Jerry Patino, Kevin Reilly, Jamie Tausend and Matt Rojel following the hope goal nearly pushed the lead back to two goals but the Red Men were unable to put one in and settled for the 2-1 win.
 
The Red Men will conclude the 2017 Battle on the Border in a nationally ranked matchup as Carthage looks to avenge a loss a season ago to the University of Chicago.   
 
"Doesn't get any easy with University of Chicago coming to town.  I think we can compete with anyone.  They may be #9 but we know they are the best team in America evidenced by last year."
 
Carthage will play Chicago in the final game of a busy day at Art Keller Field with kick off slated for 7:30 p.m.  Leading up to the Red Men, Hope College will face St. Norbert College at Art Keller Field at 5:30 p.m.