Carthage College Athletics

KENOSHA, Wis. — The Carthage College men's soccer team erased a two-goal halftime deficit with three goals in the second half Sunday afternoon, but the Firebirds surrendered a late equalizer with eight seconds remaining to play Ohio Northern to a 3-3 draw at Art Keller Field.

• Final Score: Carthage 3 - Ohio Northern 3
• Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin - Art Keller Field
• Records: Carthage 1-1-1, Ohio Northern 1-1-1

• Ohio Northern controlled much of the opening portion of the match, putting early pressure on the Carthage defense and forcing Owen Malinowski into his first save at the 5:06 mark.
• The Polar Bears earned a penalty kick at 12:23, but Malinowski denied Miles Armstrong's attempt to keep the Firebirds level.
• Ohio Northern continued to pressure following the missed penalty, earning another corner kick before taking a 1-0 lead at 12:55. The goal came off a corner kick that was put into the box and deflected off a Carthage player and into the net.
• Carthage created its first strong offensive opportunity at 20:55, when Eli Schoffstall put a shot toward the bottom left corner that was saved by Ohio Northern goalkeeper Brayden Bryant.
• Dominic Gadalinski followed with a shot at 26:10 that was also stopped by Bryant, while Dennis Valle added another Carthage attempt at 28:30 that went wide.
• Malinowski continued to keep the Firebirds within striking distance, making saves on Ohio Northern at 32:31 and 36:00 before stopping another attempt at 38:32.
• Ohio Northern doubled its advantage at 39:09. The Polar Bears sent a cross into the box off a corner, and a Carthage player attempting to clear the ball inadvertently sent it into the right corner of the net.
• Another shot for Ohio Northern came at 40:59, but the Firebirds went into halftime trailing 2-0.
• Carthage came out of halftime with a different level of offensive pressure and quickly cut into the deficit.
• Just 2:26 into the second half, Gadalinski scored at 47:26 to make it a 2-1 match. Gadalinski finished from the edge of the box, sending a right-footed shot past the goalkeeper and into the net.
• The Firebirds continued to attack, with Emmitt Hansen recording a shot at 51:14 before Schoffstall added another attempt less than a minute later.
• Schoffstall remained active offensively, recording another shot at 61:09 as Carthage continued to search for the equalizer.
• The Firebirds' pressure paid off at 71:41. Neil Mayer finished a one-time shot after a ball was played across by Gabriele Pizzo, tying the match at two.
• Carthage continued to push forward after tying the match, with Mayer recording another shot at 70:32 before his eventual equalizer.
• The Firebirds then completed the comeback at 83:27. Mayer played a long ball forward to Valle, who broke away and finished the opportunity to give Carthage its first lead of the afternoon, 3-2.
• Carthage nearly added a fourth goal moments later, as Gadalinski forced Bryant into another save at 83:52.
• Ohio Northern responded by increasing the pressure in the closing minutes. Malinowski stopped a shot at 86:07, while two more shots came moments later.
• With just eight seconds remaining in regulation, Armstrong scored his second goal of the afternoon at 89:52 to bring Ohio Northern level at three.

• Dominic Gadalinski scored Carthage's opening goal of the comeback, finishing with three shots, all three on goal.
• Neil Mayer scored the equalizer, added an assist on Valle's goal, and finished with two shots, including one on goal.
• Dennis Valle scored Carthage's third goal and finished with two shots, including one on goal.
• Eli Schoffstall recorded three shots, including one on goal.
• Owen Malinowski played all 90 minutes in goal and made eight saves, with seven coming in the first half.
• Gabriele Pizzo recorded an assist on Mayer's second-half goal.

"While disappointed not to hang on when 3-2 up in the last minute, we're incredibly proud of our competitive growth. Playing a top program like Ohio Northern reveals a lot and a lot of that was positive today. We're excited to get back to work this week!"

• Carthage turns their attention to Wisconsin Lutheran on Thursday, September 10 at 7 p.m.