NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- The Carleton College men's soccer team returned to the win column on Wednesday, notching a 2-0 victory over visiting Central College (Iowa) in a non-conference contest.
 
In the 15th minute, Blake Jones (So./Urbandale, Iowa/Waukee) showed his pace down the right flank, taking on a few Dutch defenders and playing the ball smoothly to Owen Flanagan (So./San Francisco, Calif./San Francisco University), who calmly poked the ball into the back of the net for his team-high third goal of the season.
 
Jones nearly doubled the margin when his free kick in the 32nd minute struck the crossbar.
 
Carleton's lead extended in the second half when Flanagan took on a cohort of Dutch defenders in the offensive third, only to be taken down in the box. A penalty kick was awarded, and Trevor Jones (Sr./Urbandale, Iowa/Waukee) converted, bringing the scoreline to 2-0.
 
For the last 20 minutes of the game, Carleton was able to dominate possession, while Dylan Fox-Arnold (So./Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day School) almost increased the lead with a low shot that deflected off the left goalpost in the 76th minute.
 
Overall, Carleton (3-3-1) held a 16-4 edge in shots and a 5-1 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Thanks to solid work by the Carleton defense—including Alexander Grosse (Fy./San Francisco, Calif./Deerfield Academy), who registered his first start as a center back—Knights' goalkeeper Alexei Thomas (Sr./London, UK/Merchant Taylors School) was required to make only one save in posting his second shutout of the season.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will take on Colorado College at Bell Field at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25.