EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — Carter Thiesfeld (So. – Forest Lake, Minn.) scored a pair of second-half goals to help the UW-Eau Claire men's soccer team overturn an early deficit and defeat Carroll 2-1 during Senior Night on Thursday at Simpson Field. The Pioneers held a 1-0 lead at halftime, but the Blugolds stormed past in the final 45 minutes.
The Blugolds controlled possession for large chunks of the first half, but struggled to turn their dominance into shots on target. Eventually the Pioneers found the first breakthrough when Sam Bahnfleth latched onto a deflection in the Blugolds' box and slotted it into the net in the 36th minute. The Blugolds fired off nine shots in the half, but went into the break scoreless after most of their attempts missed the target.
The second half brought added urgency for UW-Eau Claire, and it was rewarded when Thiesfeld scored an equalizer in the 55th minute off an assist from Max Walters (Jr. - Madison, Wis./Memorial) and Jacob Sampson (So. - McFarland, Wis.). The Blugolds continued to control possession across the half, outshooting the Pioneers 17-5 in the period, and found the winner in the final stages. Thiesfeld knocked a shot home in the 83rd minute off assists from Max Lynch (Fr. – Verona, Wis.) and Nathan Donovan (So. – Hazel Green, Wis./Wahlert Catholic). The two goals were the third and fourth of the season for Thiesfeld.
Spencer Banks (So. – Superior, Wis.) made two saves in net for the Blugolds. UW-Eau Claire outshot the Pioneers 26-7 and held a 10-3 advantage in shots on target.
Daniel Muths (Sr. – Stillwater, Minn.), the Blugolds' lone senior, was recognized in a pregame ceremony. He was the Blugolds' first recruit when the program was founded.
The victory moved UW-Eau Claire to 16-2-0 this season. The Blugolds have two games remaining, and return to action on Sunday, Oct. 23, at Carleton. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
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