KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carthage College men's soccer team won a high intensity College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin match at home on Saturday night, defeating Illinois Wesleyan University at Art Keller Field, 2-0.
 
The win moves the Red Men to 8-7 on the season and to a tie at the top of the league at 4-1, while the Titans fall to 8-5 and 1-4 in the CCIW.
 
"It wasn't pretty but it was entertaining," said head coach Steve Domin.  "With all these injuries, I feel like we are fighting this roller coaster of expectations.  Illinois wesleyan is a very, very solid team, ranked eighth in our region, but we have to be better in all facets; managing the clock, the situation, the bench, the emotions of the game.  All that is on me.  I will tell you, when Ivan Esquivel, Jerry Patino, Kevin Mahoney, Freddy Martinez and Danny Eloyza are healthy we are a tough beat.  Nice time to get them back closer to 100 percent."
 
In a strong defensive battle through the first half, both teams had limited opportunities with Carthage's best to chances coming from a Kevin Mahoney header off a corner that went wide and Xavian Cruz one-on-one that the Titan goalkeeper made a save on to keep it 0-0 at half.
 
Illinois Wesleyan turned up the pressure early in the second half, forcing Niko Mavrogiannis into three early saves to keep it scoreless. Carthage finally broke the scoreless tie in the 58^th minute after Ivan Esquivel sprung free and after a one-on-one save by Alex Ruckstaetter on Esquivel, Jeff Montemayor cleaned up the rebound at the top of the box and blasted home his second goal of the season for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Red Men continued to look to counter after increased pressure from Wesleyan and it looked like it would pay off in the 78^th minute when Jerry Patino got behind the defense but Ruckstaetter came up with another big save.  Patino got his revenge just minutes later after a save from Mavrogiannis started the attack from the back, as a long ball from Juan Marban beat the Titan backline and Patino slotted home the goal in the 84^th minute to give the Red Men the 2-0 lead.  For Patino, it was his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
 
Mavrogiannis finished with five saves in the win and earned his fifth clean sheet of the season.
 
"Quietly Jeff Montamayor, David Snooks and our outside backs, Kevin Reilly and Nicholas Messineo, are holding serve.  They are fun to watch when they are on… Everyone knows our schedule and we don't have much time to get ready for the lion's den on Wednesday.  Chicago will be a good test for the stretch run."
 
The Red Men return to action to close out their 2018 non-conference schedule on Wednesday when Carthage heads to the top ranked team in the nation, the University of Chicago.  Kick-off Wednesday is set for 7:00 p.m. from Chicago.