Carthage Defeats Visiting Bearcats, 2-0, in Wisconsin

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

KENOSHA, WIS. -- Carthage College (Wis.) downed Willamette University, 2-0, in a men's soccer game on Monday, Sept. 1 at Art Keller Field. The Red Men scored less than 10 minutes into the game and with less than four minutes remaining to earn the win. Carthage advance its record to 2-0. Willamette fell to 0-3.

The Red Men took a 1-0 lead at the 9:10 mark on a goal by Ian Chavez. He scored on a header following a corner kick taken by Austin Bitta. Carthage outshot the Bearcats 10-5 in the first half and remained in front 1-0 at the break.

Even so, Carthage goalie Nick Huftalin had to make three of his four saves in the first 45 minutes. He stopped first-half shot by Alan Hernandez (Fr., F, Tigard, OR/Tigard HS), Fabian Guerrero (So., F, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) and Luke Falcone (Sr., D, Boulder, CO/Colorado Rocky Mountain School). The shot by Falcone was with 30 seconds left in the half.

The Red Men gained a 9-2 advantage shots during the second half to finish with a 19-7 margin. Michael Dombrowski tallied the second goal at 86:31. The play began with a free kick and ended with a header by Dombrowski. Assists went to Taylor Pignataro and Seamus Kaminski.

Julian Juarez (Jr., GK, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) achieved six saves for Willamette in 79:50 in the nets. Josh Fuentes (So., GK, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) recorded one save in the final 10 minutes.

Dombrowski topped all players with six total shots. Pignataro had three shots, all on goal. Sam Gonzalez (Jr., D, Junction City, OR/Junction City HS) led WU with two shots. Huftalin saved a shot by Gonzalez at 73:02 that would have tied the game.

Carthage amassed 12 corner kicks, while the Bearcats earned three corners. The Red Men committed 10 of the game's 19 fouls and received two yellows cards.

The Bearcats will play at Evergeen State College (Wash.) on Sunday, Sept. 7. Game time is set for 4 p.m. (PDT).