Men’s soccer falls short in high-scoring battle at Carroll

Waukesha, WI – Big Blue men's soccer wrapped up its second four-game road trip of the season on Saturday, facing off against the Pioneers of Carroll University. Millikin jumped out to a 3-1 advantage in the first half, but Carroll responded with four second-half goals to rally past the Big Blue, 5-4, handing Millikin their second loss of CCIW play. Millikin falls to 5-5-1 (1-2-0), while Carroll improves to 4-6-1 (2-0-1).

Carroll opened the scoring in the 19th minute when a shot deflected off a Big Blue player and found the back of the net, giving the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead. Millikin quickly answered as Olav Kaldahl found Mikkel Opdahl with a cross at 23:05 for his second goal of the season, tying up the match at 1-1.

In the 33rd minute, Aquiles Yibirin converted a penalty kick to give the Big Blue their first lead of the day, 2-1. The goal marked Yibirin's fourth of the season. Five minutes later, Kaldahl connected with Ryder Ramson on a free kick for Ramson's first goal of 2024, extending Millikin's lead to 3-1.

Out of the halftime break, the Pioneers struck for their second goal of the day on a penalty kick that barely made it past a diving Joshua Garrett, cutting the Big Blue's lead to one. Ten minutes later, Carroll tied up the match when Garrett blocked a shot by Iskander Sharipov, but the rebound fell directly to Edin Hajric, knotting the game up at 3-3.

Millikin quickly regained the lead at 62:28 as a crosser from Aidan Welch found Kaldahl, but the initial attempt was blocked by the Pioneers. Kaldahl stayed with the play and headed the rebound into the net, giving the Big Blue a 4-3 advantage.

Carroll answered late, scoring in the 79th and 84th minutes to take its first lead of the day. Millikin managed two shots during the final minutes but was unable to find the equalizer as the Pioneers held on for the victory, 5-4.

Men's soccer returns to the 217 for its first home contest of CCIW play, welcoming the North Central Cardinals on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Frank M. Lindsay Field, with the match streamed live on the CCIW Network.