A cool and windy day was the setting for huge, early season
win for the Pioneers. Led by senior captain Daniel Doran, Northland was able to
tally four times in the second half to secure the victory against Carroll
University who is currently ranked twenty-third in the NCAA Division 3.
The first half saw each side generate several opportunities
with Northland hitting the woodwork two times. The two teams played
conservatively in the first half, however, with neither team wanting to concede
the all-important first goal. The game remained tied going into the half.
The second half was a much more offensively oriented game. Senior
captain Daniel Doran, who has scored in each of Northland’s games this year,
started off the scoring for the Pioneers in the forty-ninth minute when he
slipped the ball by the keeper after a nicely placed pass by sophomore Jason
Lorch. Northland would concede just two minutes later, however, after a
rebounded shot was put home by Carroll’s Nick Tripoli. A resilient Northland
responded two minutes later as Jason Lorch sent a cheeky shot from thirty yards out
to beat the Carroll keeper who had strayed off his line. The game remained even
for the next ten minutes until Carroll was able to draw a foul in the box. Mark
Hieptas converted the penalty to knot the game at two. The favor was returned to
Northland in the seventy-second minute as freshman Mark Romig drew the foul,
giving Northland a penalty kick. Doran converted his second goal of the game as
he calmly slipped the ball into the corner.
From that point on, the game was extremely back and forth
with each team pushing forward. Mark Romig sealed the win for Northland in the eighty-fourth minute as he blasted home Northland’s fourth goal from twelve
yards out. Northland outshot Carroll 18–7 with Dave Bartholomew collecting
four saves in net.
Northland moves to 3–0 on the year and will look to continue
its run tomorrow night as they battle host team Wisconsin Lutheran at 7:30.
Carroll falls to 0–2 and next plays UW-Platteville in their tournament finale
tomorrow.