KENOSHA, Wis. – The third-ranked St. Olaf College men's soccer team recorded its third shutout in as many road games this season with a 2-0 victory over Carthage College on Sunday afternoon at Art Keller Field.
St. Olaf (6-0-0) got goals in either half from juniors
Ryan Wilson and
Jack Soares to blank Carthage (2-2-1) to get to 6-0-0 for the first time since 2011. The Oles, who were ranked No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, have outscored their opponents by a 17-2 margin this season, including road victories by scores of 1-0, 1-0, and 2-0 so far.
In a game that saw the two teams combine for just four shots on goal, St. Olaf broke through in the 26th minute when sophomore
Tustin Todd's free kick from just outside the box deflected off Wilson near the Carthage wall and flew in inside the right post. The goal marked Wilson's third game in a row with at least a goal or an assist, while Todd claimed his team-leading fourth assist of the season.
Ten minutes into the second half, the Oles doubled their lead on a near-post header by Soares off a right-wing cross from Bechtel. All five of Soares' goals this season have come in the last three games. Bechtel has recorded an assist in each of the last three games, and his 33 assists are one shy of tying John Zietlow '11 for second in program history.
Carthage limited St. Olaf to 12 shots and three shots on goal but created just six shots of its own and only got one of those on goal. Junior
Beckett Carlson stopped the lone shot he faced for the fourth shutout among his six wins this season.
The Oles will open Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play at home against Saint Mary's University at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.
