WAUKESHA, Wis. – Facing one of the nation's top programs, the Carroll University men's soccer team turned in a determined effort Sunday afternoon but fell 2-0 to No. 8 University of Chicago at Schneider Stadium. The Pioneers battled throughout the 90 minutes against a Maroons squad that entered the contest with a 5-1 record and national ranking, showing resilience despite the final score.
UChicago controlled much of the possession and tempo early, generating pressure in the attacking third throughout the opening half. Goalkeeper Angel Escamilla helped keep Carroll within striking distance, making six first-half saves as the Pioneers weathered a steady stream of opportunities. The Maroons finally broke through in the 23rd minute when George Marin found the back of the net, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead that stood through halftime.
Despite being outshot 13-2 in the opening 45 minutes, Carroll remained organized defensively and continued to compete against one of Division III's premier programs.
The Maroons added an insurance goal early in the second half when Chase Perry scored in the 52nd minute off an assist from Edward Wu. Carroll refused to back down, however, creating several promising moments late in the contest. Iskander Sharipov recorded a pair of second-half attempts, while Jorge Gonzalez Marrero forced a save in the 83rd minute for the Pioneers' lone shot on goal of the afternoon.
Escamilla continued his strong performance between the posts throughout the second half, finishing with eight saves against a Chicago offense that produced 23 total shots and 10 shots on target. Carroll limited additional damage despite facing sustained pressure and matched the Maroons with two corner kicks in the match.
Pablo Segura Larraz, Sharipov, Gonzalez Marrero and Obada Altahat each recorded shots for the Pioneers, who generated five total attempts against one of the nation's stingiest defensive teams. Carroll's back line, led by Nathan Patzer, Liam Stokes and Christian Meraz, battled throughout the afternoon against an attack that entered the weekend averaging more than two goals per match.
While the result snapped Carroll's momentum, the Pioneers showed they could compete against elite competition and will look to carry that effort into conference play. Carroll returns to action Saturday, Sept. 26, when it travels to Augustana for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
