ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Carleton College men's soccer team played its final non-conference game of the season and went out on a high note, defeating the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, 2-0 behind second-half goals from Alvin Bierley (Jr./San Jose, Calif./Leland) and Marco da Cunha (So./San Francisco, Calif./San Francisco University).
 
In the Knights' (9-1-1) second game in as many days, they played the Eagles (1-10-1) very evenly, with the hosts actually outshooting Carleton by a 9-8 margin, but only one of Northwestern's shots ended on goal, whereas five of visitors attempts were on target.
 
The first half saw no goals scored, as the two teams battled over a very physical 45 minutes that saw 14 combined fouls called.
 
It took until the 73rd minute for the opening goal, but da Cunha slotted a pass through the Eagles' backline to a streaking Bierley, who knocked the ball into the lower left-hand corner of the goal for the game-winner.
 
The Knights took advantage of this shift in momentum, as 50 seconds later da Cunha added an insurance goal, this time scoring off an assist from Brennan Johnson (Jr./Portland, Ore./Grant).
 
In goal, Aaron Forman (Jr./Los Angeles, Calif./Windward School) and Ethan Saucedo (Fy./Agoura Hills, Calif./Oaks Christian) combined for the shutout, the eighth of the season for Carleton.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS: The Knights will return to conference play, taking on University of St. Thomas on Saturday, October 12 in St. Paul. This 1:00 p.m. contest will be the first half of a doubleheader with the women's game scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start.