PELLA — Scoring the game's only goal with 20 seconds remaining, the Central College men's soccer team knocked off Carleton College (Minn.) 1-0 Sunday night.
The Dutch (2-3-0) handed the Knights (4-1-2) their first loss of the season. The Knights were coming off a win Saturday against the No. 18 team in Division III, Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.).
"Carleton is fantastic team," coach
Garry Laidlaw said. "At the end of the day, I'm really proud of our guys. I thought it was a real character-building win. Our guys stuck with it right until the end."
As regulation was winding to a close, Central took one last run at goal.
Cole Manuel (freshman, midfielder, Erie, Colo.) put a cross in from the left side and
Jake Dzarnowski (senior, midfielder, Wheaton, Ill., North HS) flicked it with his head further right in front of a charging
Zach Worster (senior, O'Fallon, Mo, St. Dominic HS) who pushed it left of the keeper for the go-ahead goal.
"It was a fantastic run by Zach," Laidlaw said. "He kept going late in the game, which shows his true grit. He's got goals in him."
Manuel played 79 minutes, the most of any Central field player.
"He had a tremendous game today," Laidlaw said. "He logged major minutes."
Goalkeeper
John Foster (sophomore, Lee's Summit, Mo., North HS) made eight saves and earned the win in goal with the shutout.
"He was very clean all day today," Laidlaw said. "He kept things organized in front of him."
In front of Foster, Laidlaw cited the three-man rotation at center back as key to the victory.
Joe Brown (freshman, Norwalk) and
Nathan Kuhlman (sophomore, Lee's Summit, Mo., North HS) got the start, but
Brandon Banyas (junior, Pleasant Hill, Southeast Polk HS) was crucial off the bench.
"We're still trying to find out best combinations and define roles for certain players," Laidlaw said. "All three of them were really solid. To hold Carleton out for 90 minutes speaks volumes."
Central hosts Cornell College on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
