WAUKEHSA, Wis. – The Carroll University men's soccer team ended with a tie for the first time since 2018 on Saturday night in Waukesha. The Pioneers tied with Wheaton College in their CCIW opener, 1-1. Josh Gonzaga scored the equalizer in the 83^rd minute to force overtime.
 
The Pioneers (7-1-1) played a physical, grinding game with the Thunder, that finished with Carroll getting off seven shots, five of which were on net. Wheaton made four spectacular saves during the course of the contest, and two in the second half as the Pios were fighting their way back. Gonzaga had two of the five shots on goal and two of the Pioneers seven total shots, followed by Adrian Komperda's two header attempts.
 
In a chippy start to the game, Wheaton go the first shot on goal attempt in the 24^th minute, but their attempt was thwarted by Tyler Hanson.  Gonzaga forced a corner after his shot attempt was deflected by the keeper out of bounds, and Komperda's header nearly grazed the post, missing wide right.
 
In the second half, Wheaton scored in the 55^th minute, just after a yellow card was assessed to their team. A slew of Carroll substitutions brought in fresh legs on a humid night in the 63^rd minute. Carroll held possession in the attacking half, looking for an open shot. Gonzaga worked his way back to the middle, fell away as he got the shot off with his left foot, and found the back of the net past the keeper high left. Wheaton had a chance to take back the lead, but a miraculous team save by Ethan Kratzer brought the contest to OT.
 
Wheaton nearly took the game in the final second as a shot rolled wide right at the buzzer in the first overtime. Julius Marks had an opportunity on net in the second overtime, but another Wheaton save gave both teams their first ties of the season.
 
Carroll will return home on Wednesday, October 6^th, in the makeup game against UW-Whitewater at 7 PM.