MEDFORD, Ore. - The Carroll Men's Soccer team's run in the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships came to an early end on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-1 to Oregon Tech in the quarterfinals at Wheeler Field.
The second-seeded Fighting Saints (9-6-2) held the sixth-seeded Owls (7-5-7) scoreless through a first half that saw Oregon Tech take a 9-5 shot advantage, but three second-half goals proved to be too much to overcome.
Goalkeeper Dane Quinn (Helena, Mont. / JR) got the start in net and kept Carroll level throughout the opening 45 minutes, turning aside a pair of OIT shots as the Saints weathered an early push from the Owls. Cyrille Wangama (Spokane, Wash. / SO) put the Saints' best looks of the half on frame, forcing a save from Oregon Tech keeper Noah Harwood in the 41st minute, but the two sides would go to the break tied at 0-0.
Oregon Tech got on the board just five minutes into the second half. The Owls capitalized on a Carroll own goal in the 51st-minute to take a 1-0 lead, and they extended it in the 64th-minute when Andrew George found the back of the net, assisted by Lucas Kay-Wong and Yahir Ramos. Things went from bad to worse for the Saints in the 76th-minute as Merrick Tambio made it 3-0, again off a Kay-Wong assist.
Carroll finally found their first, and only, goal in the 80th minute. Sean Balen (Mukilteo, Wash. / SR) delivered the pass in and Nils Benning (Kiel, Germany / SR) finished it, cutting the deficit to 3-1. THe advance would end there, however, as OIT managed to shut down any sort of Carroll comeback attempt over the final 10 minutes.
The Saints outshot Oregon Tech 10-6 in the second half and finished even in total shots at 15-15, but Harwood stood tall for the Owls, finishing with four saves.Â
The Owls now move on to Monday's quarterfinal match, where they'll take on the No. 4-seed Eastern Oregon at 7 p.m., while the Saints will be forced to await the NAIA tournament selection process, hoping to hear their name called as an at-large selection for the national tournament.
Be sure to visit www.carrollathletics.com for updates on the NAIA tournament, and for complete coverage of the Fighting Saints all season long.
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