COLUMBUS, Ohio – Juniors Steven McCarthy and Josh Thaboune each scored twice as Capital beat John Carroll, 4-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference men’s soccer opener for both sides on Sunday. The win snaps a two-game losing streak for Capital which improved to 7-3-0 overall and 1-0-0 in the OAC.
Thaboune (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley HS) finished with two goals and one assist while Steven McCarthy (Centerville, Ohio/Archbishop Alter HS) found the back of the net twice and freshman Daniel McCarthy (Centerville, Ohio/Archbishop Alter HS) tallied two assists for Capital which held an 18-15 edge in shots and a 5-2 lead in corner kicks.
Steven McCarthy started the scoring in the 12th minute as Thaboune flicked the ball over the defense from 20 yards out to the foot of McCarthy who redirected it to the far post for a 1-0 Capital lead.
Visiting John Carroll (4-4-1, 0-1-0 OAC) would come back with two goals surrounding the halftime intermission. The Blue Streaks score in the 41st minute to even the score and tallied another goal just 54 seconds into the second half as the Crusaders fell down 2-1.
Thaboune would respond for CU in the 48th minute as senior Tyler Mowbray (Centerville, Ohio/Archbishop Alter HS) fed a quick pass across the goal mouth to Thaboune who drilled it home from five yards out to knot the score at 2-2.
Capital finally took the lead in the 73rd minute when Daniel McCarthy served a long pass down the left side to Thaboune who dribbled past one defender and put the ball into the top right corner for a 3-2 advantage.
The Crusader added another goal in the 86th minute when Daniel McCarthy hit a cross to his brother Steven McCarthy who finished from just in front of the net for a 4-2 Capital victory.
Sophomore Justin Bultman (Maineville, Ohio/Kings HS) made five saves for Capital, which remains at home to play host to OAC rival Ohio Northern on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.