Carleton Knights

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The No. 12-ranked Carleton College men's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships after triumphing 4-1 in a shootout, which was required after the Knights and No. 14 Pacific Lutheran battled to a scoreless draw after 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.
 
The game promised a clash of styles. Carleton (15-2-2) entered the game with the best defense in NCAA Division III men's soccer with a 0.278 goals against average, while Pacific Lutheran (14-2-5) entered as the third-highest scoring team in the nation at 3.65 goals per game. Neither teams was strangers to the moment, with the Lutes making their fifth consecutive tournament appearance while Carleton notched their second in three years.
 
Carleton found a smattering of chances in the early going. MIAC Defensive Player of the Year Justin Crawmer had the first shot of the game for the Knights, as he slid into the top left corner of the box, but his bouncing shot was saved by goalkeeper Nicholas Gaston. In minute 35, Crawmer slotted a pass into the center of the box for substitute Dylan Fox-Arnold. The junior tried a nifty backheel towards goal, but quick to the ground was Gaston to make the save.
 
In the 42nd minute, Lutes leading scorer Craig Johnson wriggled free at the top of the box, and laced a shot off the right post, perhaps the best chance of the first half for the typically explosive Lutes, who found themselves stymied by Carleton's defense and Daniel Linder's goalkeeping. The play was end-to-end though, with neither side gaining a clear advantage
 
The second half nearly began with a bang, as the second of two consecutive corner kicks found Crawmer, whose header was blocked. Fellow defender Josh Zebrack pounced on the rebound, but his rolling try was saved. Zebrack got another chance in the 66th minute of play, as a corner bounced to him at the back post, but he was well defended, and his header glanced off the crossbar
 
Ben Pennell, Carleton's leading scorer on the season, stood over a dead ball earned after Crawmer drew a foul at the edge of the 18-yard box. Pennell curled his delivery around the wall, but the woodwork came into play once again, as the ball bounced off the right post and away from danger.
 
Pacific Lutheran's Johnson was denied again by the woodwork in the waning seconds of regular time. He lashed an eight-yard shot over Linder, but the ball rocketed off the underside of the crossbar and remained in play.
 
Neither side was able to get a shot on goal in the first ten-minute overtime period, and the second overtime period was much the same, as the two top-15 squads were deadlocked in the run of play. The scoreless overtime periods led to a penalty shootout, which felt destined to be the outcome between two impressively equal sides.
 
The shootout took place at the north end of St. Olaf's Rolf Melby Field, in front of a large cohort of Carleton fans who made the trip across the river. Pennell took the first kick and slotted his shot home after sending the keeper the wrong way. Johnson took the first Lutes try, but Linder stood strong with a save.
 
Trevor Jones cashed his spot-kick, and Linder stonewalled Alvin Kamau to give the Knights a 2-00 advantage. Owen Flanagan coolly rolled his try past Gaston, making it 3-0. Cole Dobson barely beat Linder on his attempt, keeping Pacific Lutheran alive for the time being. Then, Crawmer capped a hugely impactful game with a penalty goal, walking off the game for Carleton and sending the travelling crowd into a frenzy.
 
This was Carleton's first time progressing past the NCAA round of 64 since 2018, although the result will go in the book as a draw due to the fact the match went to a shootout penalties.
 
Daniel Linder starred in goal, making six saves in open play and two massive penalty stops. The Knights defense as a whole earned its 14th clean sheet on the season. Pacific Lutheran outshot Carleton 23-18, but the shots on goal tally was even at 6-6 in the end.
 
Up next for the Knights:
Carleton will continue its NCAA tournament quest by playing crosstown rival and No. 11-ranked St. Olaf College in the round of 32 on Sunday, Nov. 12. Kickoff will be at 1:00 PM CT.