HELENA, Mont. – Kyle Thomson scored twice and added an assist to lead Carroll College to a 4-0 Cascade Conference win over College of Idaho Sunday afternoon at Nelson Stadium.
The Saints dominated from the start, outshooting the Yotes 21-6, including a 12-4 advantage in shots on goal.
"College of Idaho is not an average squad, they are very talented," head coach
Doug Mello said. "The conference is tough on the men's side and they've had some good results. We came out with purpose. I used the reserves for the first part of the match and I think that caught our starters' attention. We have a good squad and we have been underachieving but they came out and showed what we are capable of today."
Carroll got on the board in the 18th minute when
Terry Cox received a ball from
Riley Prescott, he one-touched it and chipped the goalkeeper from 35-yards out to give Carroll a 1-0 lead which held to the half. The Saints would pour it on after the break.
Thomson scored on a header in the 50th minute on an assist from
Paolo Georgiades. Georgiades sent the ball into the middle of the box where Thomson headed the ball past the keeper to give the Saints a 2-0 lead.
In the 64th minute, goalkeeper
Bernhardt Di Cino punted a ball deep into the C of I side of the field. Thomson was there to head the ball directly to
Jose Porras as he streaked to the goal. Porras chipped the keeper to the upper 90 to give the Saints a 3-0 lead.
Thomson added to his stellar day in the 75th minute.
Alessio Georgiades crossed the ball to left of the goal. The C of I keeper came out to challenge and Thomson slid under the ball, sending it past the keeper for his second goal.
The Saints outshot the Yotes 10-2 in the first half and 11-4 in the second. Di Cino put up a gem of a game with four saves, including one where he was laying on the ground in the second half.
"We played some stifling defense and Bernie came up with great saves." Mello said. "We fought hard and deserved the victory.
Jonathan Taylor cleaned up back there.
Eric Hollenbaugh played in the midfield and helped keep the ball on our offensive side of the field. He put us in great position."
Thomson's stellar game was the product of more aggressive play.
"I've been on him to shoot more and take some chances," Mello said. "Both goals are the result of him sticking with the play. It is contagious and the guys got rolling. We were putting a lot of pressure on them and we took advantage of it."
The Saints now have a week off before hosting Providence at Nelson Stadium on Oct. 15.
