Men’s soccer falls to Carleton in overtime

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Kohl Sparrman scored the game-winning goal just over 3 minutes into overtime as Carleton escaped Buxton Stadium with a 2-1 win over the Simpson men's soccer team.

Riley Phelps dribbled down the left wing before sending a well-placed cross to Sparrman, who converted the close-range goal. The Knights (1-1) won the first meeting between the teams since 2007. 

Simpson out-shot Carleton 15-10 and put twice as many shots on goal, but couldn't come away with a second score after Donevan Roe found the back of the net late in the first half.

"Soccer can be a cruel sport sometimes, and the result isn't always an indication of who out-performed two," head coach Rick Isaacson said. "In the end, they did the little things that led to victory and we didn't."

The Storm (2-1) got on the board first when Roe played a deflection off Knights goalkeeper Brandon Hilliard in the 42nd minute. The score remained 1-0 until the 56th minute when Danny Leal bent a 25-yarder from the top of the box.

"The difference in the game was the first goal, it was  fantastic goal," Isaacson said. "You have to tip your cap to him."

Simpson's best scoring opportunity came early in the game when Garrett Pochop rifled a shot off the crossbar. The Storm put 10 shots on goal, but Hilliard was up to the challenge, coming away with nine saves. Chris Harris made three saves for the Storm.

Up next: Simpson makes a weekend trip to Moorhead, Minn. where it will play a pair of games over the weekend. The Storm play Wisconsin-Superior on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. and close the weekend against Concordia-Moorhead on Sunday at Noon.