HELENA, Mont. – The Carroll College men's soccer team needed a rebound after a disappointing loss to Eastern Oregon to open the weekend. They found an answer Friday notching goals in the 15th and 38th minute to earn a 2-0 home shutout over Warner Pacific.
The key for the Saints was changes in the lineup from head coach
Doug Mello. He replaced many of his tried and true starters with young players and the switch lit a fire under the young squad.
"I had to challenge the guys," Mello said. "I told them, 'We can't go into the beginning of the Cascade Conference schedule at 1-3. You know, at 2-2, that's at least something you can build on. This is a must-win situation early in the season, and they responded.
"I changed the lineup around because we had some trouble in the last couple matches scoring, and gave some reserves a run. We started a pretty much new front group and midfield, and the guys responded."
Carroll got on the board when a free kick from
Nathan Boone from 45-yards out bounced into the box where it was put on frame by a
Jacob Groh. The goalkeeper made the first save but the ball rebounded right to
Eric Hollenbaugh how sent the ball right over the diving goalkeeper to score the first goal of his collegiate career.
The Saints added another goal in the 39th minute. A Warner defender misplayed a ball right to
Chris Brayton who drove and connected with
Sam Malouf as he split two defenders down the middle of the field. The goalkeeper came out to challenge but Malouf got to the ball first and chipped it in for the 2-0 lead.
That would be the only goals on the game for Carroll but the defense did more than enough to earn the win, led by redshirt freshman Bernhardt Di CIno.
The Carroll Backstop had some tremendous saves, including a free kick in the 88th minute that went over the Carroll wall and looked like it could make things interesting but Di Cino was there to preserve the shutout.
Carroll outshot Warner 13-11, including a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal.
Di Cino tallied five saves on the day.
The Saints are now 4-5 on the season and 2-2 in Cascade play. They now hit the road for four consecutive road games, starting with the College of Idaho on Sept. 30, in Caldwell, Idaho.
