Rockford, IL--The men dropped their most-recent game yesterday, a 2-1 defeat away to Joliet Junior College.
The game began with end-to-end action and plenty of physicality--each team was awarded a penalty kick in the game's first ten minutes. Sophomore
Pedro Acosta stepped to the penalty spot in the 7th-minute in an attempt to give his away side an early advantage, only to see it saved and carom off the post and out of danger. Two minutes later, Joliet was given an opportunity of their own to strike first with a penalty kick. Sophomore goalkeeper
Christopher Perea was able get a hand to it, make the save and help avoid further danger as Joliet missed two follow-up attempts, keeping the game level at 0-0.
Moments later in the 12th-minute, Joliet was able to get a shot passed Perea who had slipped to the turf in an attempt to reposition himself to make the save. Joliet would take the 1-0 advantage into Halftime. Rock Valley College responded nicely, controlling the first fifteen minutes of the second half, earning and converting on second penalty.
Poe Reh tied the match at 1-1 in the 60th-minute.
Fifteen minutes later, Joliet would score the game-winner from a set-piece mishandled by the sure-handed Pera in the 75th-minute, on a follow-up rebound after Perea lost control of a collected ball. "Look, Chris [Perea] has come up big for us time and again, all season long," said head coach
Tim Romanello following the match. "Take that same kick another 99 times and he collects all 99 safely."
The Golden Eagles will next be in action tomorrow, Wednesday, October 9th when they host Milwaukee Area Technical College at RVC Soccer Field at 4p.m. central time.
