NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Contributions from new faces and new places helped the Carleton College men's soccer team ease to a 3-0 victory over the Bethany Lutheran College Vikings in a sweltering season opener.
Carleton (1-0-0) has not lost a season opener since 2015. The Knights are 9-0-1 in their last 10 lid-lifters.
Ben Roman, playing in central midfield for his first time in collegiate soccer, did not need much of an acclimation period for his new position. He whipped in a threatening shot on a set piece in the eighth minute that was saved by Brady Price, goalkeeper for Bethany Lutheran (0-1-1). Two minutes later, Roman hit a shot that Price could not stop. The junior received a perfect curling cross from
Ian Vichnick, who, like Roman, was playing left-back for the first time in his career. After bringing down the ball, Roman finished calmly into the bottom right corner for the first Bell Field goal of 2026.
Carleton maintained control through the first half, authoring several chances whilst out-shooting the Vikings 8-0.
Felix Shapiro's thumping shot in the 23rd minute was perhaps the best opportunity of the bunch, but it was saved on the dive by Price.
Bethany seemed to find a spark, putting its first two shots goalward in the opening 10 minutes of the second stanza. The Vikings kept pressing, but had the wind taken out of their sails in the 73rd minute. Debutante
Hans Lechner capitalized on a Bethany turnover to kickstart a counterattack. Lechner played fellow rookie
Oscar Gates on a through ball, and Gates returned the favor to put Lechner in alone. The rookie chopped past the keeper to open his career with a goal.
Five minutes later, another player making his Carleton debut found a way onto the scoresheet.
Matthew Deffo beat a pair of defenders and used blazing speed to get to to the byline with teammates trailing. The first-year striker spotted
Nick Chou unmarked in the six-yard box, and both his cross and Chou's finish were perfect, with the Washington native slamming a one-timer into the roof of the net to put the game to bed.
Three of six goal contributions came from players making their Carleton debut. Two of the others came from returners playing a new position.
Ethan Saucedo did no have to make a save in goal, but with the help of his defense, he recorded his first career clean sheet.
Carleton outshot Bethany Lutheran 17-2, with eight shots on goal to the Vikings' none. The Knights took seven corner kicks, and Bethany Lutheran was awarded two.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton travels to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Wednesday, Sep. 9 for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff.
