Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana scored first Saturday at Thorson-Lucken Field, but Carthage roared back with four unanswered goals to claim a 4-1 victory. The Red Men improved to 16-3 on the season and completed an 8-0 run to the 2016 CCIW regular season title. The Vikings finished the season at 4-13-1 overall and 0-7-1 in the league.
 
In the 12th minute, freshman Michael Peters (St. Charles East HS, St. Charles, Ill.) finished off a Michael Brazinski (Plainfield East HS, Plainfield, Ill.) free kick for his seventh goal of the season and a 1-0 Augustana lead.
 
Carthage got the equalizer and took the lead, both in the 19th minute. Johnny Rimkus tied the match at 1-1, finding the left side of the net following a spin move. Less than a minute later, Austin Bitta and Alberto Eloyza executed a give-and-go with Bitta scoring off the Eloyza assist.
 
The first half ended with the Red Men on top 2-1. Carthage had an 8-5 advantage in shots in the opening 45 minutes.
 
It took less than a minute of second-half play for the visitors to extend the lead to 3-1. Bitta lofted a through ball to Rimkus who finished it off for his fifth goal of the season.
 
In the 55th minute, the Red Men added their final goal. This time, it was Bitta's one-timer finishing off a cross from Rimkus. The goal was Bitta's 11th of the season.
 
Sophomore Corey Mankins (Marysville HS, Marysville, Ohio) played the first 69 minutes in goal, recording one save. Freshman Jeremy Klaber (Stevenson HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) relieved him and also recoded one save in 21 minutes of action. Carthage's Justinanio Arce stopped four Viking shots on the afternoon.
 
Augustana celebrated Senior Day Saturday, honoring five players in their final collegiate game. In addition to Brazinski, Dominick Sullivan (Plainfield East HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.), Michael Roth (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.), Ryan Curry (Lincoln-Way West HS, New Lenox, Ill.) and Rahul Bhatia (Naperville Central HS, Naperville, Ill.) wrapped up their careers as Vikings.