NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College women's soccer team lost its final non-conference game of the season in heartbreaking fashion, falling 2-1 to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in double overtime. After tying the game late, the Knights hit the goal frame twice in the final minutes of regulation and had a potential overtime game winner cleared off the line before the Eagles scored the winning goal for the visitors in the 109th minute.
The Knights (4-2-1, 1-1-0 MIAC) put forth an inspired defensive effort, as the Eagles (5-4-1) possessed the ball for most of the contest, outshot the home team 18-14, and held a 9-3 edge in corner kicks.
Cate Patterson (Fy./Racine, Wis./Prairie School) nearly opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but UW-La Crosse goalkeeper Lily Brock made a nice diving save to keep the ball from tucking into the bottom right corner.
Next it was the Eagles' turn to threaten an early goal in the 11th minute when a shot rattled off the crossbar, and fell at the feet of a waiting attacker, but
Anna Roethler (Jr./St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Lois Park) was there to parry away the rebounded effort. Neither side was able to produce a better chance as the first half ended scoreless.
Ten minutes into the second half UW-La Crosse opened the scoring off a cross from the right wing which was settled by Sophie Amundson and promptly pocketed into the left side of the net.
As the clock wound down, the Knights pushed forward, and senior
Nora Mertz (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) scored the equalizing goal in the 83rd minute. She beat a defender on the right side of the box before cutting back towards the penalty spot and curling her left-footed shot just inside the left post. This was Mertz's third goal of the season, and 23rd for her career, moving her into a tie with Morgan Russell-Dempsey for the fourth most in school history.
After the goal, Carleton attacked with newfound vigor and hit the goal frame twice in the final four minutes. Patterson struck the right post with a long range effort in the 87th minute, and
Rainey Tillie (Fy./South Pasadena, Calif./S. Pasadena) saw her floating effort denied by the crossbar in the 89th minute.
In the first overtime session both teams felt each other out, but neither side were able to put home the winning goal.
In the final overtime session however, the Knights came inches away from scoring before their ultimate demise. Mertz continued causing the issues for the Eagles defense in the 107th minute when she got free behind the UWL backline. Only a diving stop by Brock kept the game tied.
The Eagles took advantage of this miraculous stop, and Kaitlyn Villars scored the winner in the 119th minute, again off a cross from the right side.
Roethler finished the game with 10 saves, tying her season best which was set in Carleton's previous match.
UP NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS: Carleton stays home and hosts MIAC foe Concordia College for a doubleheader. The men's game kicks off at 12 p.m. followed by a scheduled 2:30 p.m. start for the women's match. Live video and live stats for both matches will be available via athletics.carleton.edu
