Carroll Tops Wittenberg

Cheese Athletics Staff
November 14, 2008

Carroll Tops Wittenberg

Coming off of their second consecutive Midwest Conference Championship the
Carroll University Pioneers traveled to Wheaton Illinois for the first round of the
NCAA Division III tournament.

Their opponent was a bit of an unknown to Carroll, in Wittenberg University (Ohio).
Neither school had ever faced the other, nor had either team played any “like”
opponents over the 2008 season. Both teams were clearly capable teams but as the
opening minutes wore on, the two teams seemed to be feeling each other out, as
opposed to attacking with the same ferocity as both schools had been accustomed.
In the 35th minute Derek Marie and Bram Daelemans put together a nice sequence
that left Andy Prentice enough room to hit a one time shot from the corner of the 18
beating keeper Michael Lambeck. It was the first time in Carroll history that the
men’s team held a lead in the NCAA tournament.

1-0 Carroll

As the game wore on the match began to turn to Wittenberg. They weren’t attaining
unchallenged shots but were doing a much better job in moving the ball into and
around the attacking third.

Just after halftime Carroll’s back line was caught stepping up in an offside trap.
Without replay it is hard to tell whether Matt Fleissner’s pass to Matt Borland was
onside or not but at first glance it looked like the referee made the correct no-call.
As Borland advanced the ball, with no defenders within 20 yards of him, Stanislaw
Miaskowski was drawn off his line for the desperate save attempt. As Miaskowski
slid, Borland slotted a perfectly placed ball just past his feet that slowly rolled inside
of the back post.

1-1

The match evened out during latter parts of the second half. Both teams were
earning shots although Carroll had the majority, thanks in large part to the final 7
minutes.

In the 82nd minute Matt Borland had a throw in within a few feet of the corner flag.
Borland had had a few throw in throughout the match placing most of them a few
yards shy of the near post. On this particular play he seemed to get a few extra
yards on the toss which barely got over Scott Pease’s head creating a scrum right in
front of Carroll’s goal. After a couple failed clear attempts by the Pioneers,
Wittenberg’s Brian Glenn got a free shot from only a few yards out on a virtually
open goal.

2-1 Wittenberg

Running the ball up to midfield for the quick restart Carroll immediately went on
the offensive. After a couple of failed attempts on the net; a long cross was played
across the face of the net heading directly for Michael Lambeck’s hands. Coming
from behind the play Prentice again made his presence felt by heading the ball out of
Lambeck’s grasp towards the goal line about 5 yards wide of the net. Wittenberg’s
defenders reacted as though it was going out of bounds but Alex Goranson
happened to be standing on the goal line as the ball was about to cross out of
bounds. In the 85th minute Goranson collected the ball with one touch towards the
goal then with his second touch buried a shot in the wide open net.

2-2

In the 87th minute, just two minutes later, Carroll struck again. Off of a driven cross
from Daelemans, Prentice leaped above Wittenberg’s smaller defenders driving a
header to the back post. Lambeck reacted as well as a keeper could react getting a
couple of fingers on the shot but it was not enough as the ball trickled across the
goal line.

3-2 Carroll

Immediately following the goal Matt Borland of Wittenberg began an irate tirade
directed towards the official. Before the ball was even kicked off Borland was
shown a red card, effectively ending his college career with just 2 minutes
remaining.

Despite the lack of time remaining, playing a man down and two long clears by the
Pioneers, the Wittenberg Tigers refused to go quietly. With less than 30 seconds
remaining the Tigers shot the ball 3 times, each shot being narrowly blocked by a
Carroll defender. As the final horn sounded the Pioneers rushed onto the field in
celebration of one of the most improbable comebacks in Carroll’s history.

Final Score:
Carroll – 3
Wittenberg – 2

The Pioneers next match will be held at Wheaton College against Ohio Northern at
6:00pm.

Your write ups are getting better. Gave me a decent feel for the game.