KENOSHA, Wis. – Carthage took an 11-10 lead with eight minutes to play Saturday and made it stand up the rest of the way, defeating Augustana at Art Keller Field. The Vikings fell to 6-5 on the year and 2-3 in the CCIW, while the Firebirds improved to 9-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
 
Carson Ghys' (Warren HS, Gurnee, Ill.) goal off a Sam Shaver (Kettle Moraine HS, Delafield, Wis.) assist in the first minute of the fourth quarter tied the contest at 10-all. Augustana got off five shots over the next six minutes, but couldn't find the cage and with 8:01 to play, Carthage's Colin Poitras scored to give his team an 11-10 lead.
 
The Vikings squeezed off three shots in the next 3½ minutes, but couldn't get the eqaulizer, as Firebird goalie Sam Kotsonas preserved the win.
 
It was a see-saw affair the entire way. Carthage's Andrew Johnson scored the first two goals before Rocco Boggio (Waukesha West HS, Waukesha, Wis.) and Elijah Graesser (Wauwatosa West HS, Milwaukee, Wis.) answered. After a Poitras goal put the hosts back on top, a John Calabrese (Maine South HS, Park Ridge, Ill.) goal tied it and another by Mark Teschke (Sandburg HS, Orland Park, Ill.) gave the guests a 4-3 lead after one period.
 
Firebird George Burchfield and Augustana's Bob Robertson (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) traded goals in the second quarter before Carthage scored three straight to go up 7-5. However, Shane Forsythe (Maine South HS, Park Ridge Ill.) scored twice in the final minute and a half to send the teams to the halftime break tied 7-7.
 
The Firebirds outscored the Vikings 3-2 in the third quarter to lead 10-9. Augustana's goals came from Trever Moore (Naperville Central HS, Naperville, Ill.)—off a Teschke assist—and Graesser.
 
Forsythe and Graesser finished with two goals apiece. Calabrese won 15 of 23 faceoffs and snared a game-high 10 ground balls. Matt Pierson (Montini Catholic HS, Downers Grove, Ill.) had three caused turnovers. Johnson had four goals for Carthage.
 
Cameron Duffy (Glenbrook South HS, Glenview, Ill.) recorded 11 saves in goal, while Kotsonas was credited with eight.
 
Coach Dan Torie's squad wraps up regular season play on Wednesday, April 28, hosting North Central in a 7:00 p.m. contest at Thorson-Lucken Field.