SALT LAKE CITY – Rodrigo Portillo scored two goals, including an overtime game winner to lead the Carroll College men's soccer team to a 3-2 win over traditional power The Master's Saturday in a neutral site match in Salt Lake City.
 
"This is possibly the biggest win in the history of our program," head coach Doug Mello said. "They are very talented and very athletic and I have no doubt that they will be ranked in the top-25 and play in the NAIA tournament. They have a lot of individual talent and they are very fast"
 
The Saints got the scoring started in the 19th minute when freshman Eric Hollenbaugh tallied a goal from 25 yards out. The ball was sent in from a corner kick and it rattled around the middle of the field before Hollenbaugh got a boot on it and buried it for his first collegiate goal.
 
The Saints nearly held on to the lead until halftime but in the 44th minute goalkeeper Bernhardt Di Cino bobbled an incoming ball and TMC's Taylor Howard snuck the ball past him for the goal to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Early in the second half, the Mustangs took the 2-1 lead in the 57 minute on a goal from Benjamin Tembo.
 
"We knew in the second half that they were going to come at us," midfielder Jose Mena said. "They got the score early but we responded and we did what we needed to do to put us in position to get the win."
 
The Saints would answer 10 minutes later. Defender James Lamont drove the ball down the sideline before turning and crossing the ball to Portillo who rocketed the ball in for the equalizer in the 67th minute. Both teams had opportunities in the final 23 minutes but neither could capitalize leading to overtime.
 
"It was very important for us to go right at them to start overtime," Mena said. "We had some great chances in regulation so we knew that we would a great shot if we took it to them and it paid off."
 
Just five minutes into the first overtime, Mena drove to the baseline and sent a cross to Dylan Allen, his shot missed but the rebound came to Portillo who sent the ball far post to give the Saints the 3-2 win.
 
The win is even more satisfying for the Saints because they were playing down five starters, including Isaac Bostrom who had three goals in the first two matches of the season and is out with a sports hernia and captain Jacob Groh who is currently doing training with the ROTC."
 
"This is a big win for us," Mello said. "Getting a win at full strength was going to be a tall task but to do it five men down is very exciting. Eric Hollenbaugh had a great game he is doing a lot of things right as a freshman. Jose Mena and Jose Porras put on a lot of pressure on their defense and created space for Rodrigo. Zach Walder had a good game in the middle and Bernie had a good a great game in goal for us."
 
The goals were the second and third in two games for Portillo. His offense prowess has been a big factor for the Saints early on this season.  
 
"He knows where to find the space and has a great feel for where the ball is going," Mena said. "He is always in a good spot and is great at using his speed. I think he is going to score a lot of goals this season for us."
 
The Saints close out the road trip to Utah Sunday when they play the tournament host and former Frontier Conference foe Westminster at 12 p.m. on Westminster's campus.