Region IV
Rock Valley 1 (Alfredo Jimenez 71')
Elgin 1 (Jesus Alonzo, 32')
 
Rock Valley: Fritz (GK), Hernandez (Ramos-Vega), Ceniceros, J. Davila (Jimenez), Vazquez-Fonseca ( Cuevas-Tapia), Rufer, R. Davila, Green (Rebori, Love), Pinedo, Laumer (Montalvo, Olivares), Williams Subs Not Used: De Leon (GK), Curry, Baltazar, Perez, Salinas and Dorow (GK), Luna-gen
 
ROCKFORD, Ill. –
The Golden Eagles rebounded Saturday afternoon with a 1-1 draw with Region IV foe Elgin on Saturday. They looked good early and throughout the match, just couldn't capture that second match-winning goal that was needed to earn the full three points.
 
Rock Valley began the match with four of their ten first half shots coming in the first 15 minutes of the opening whistle. Brady Williams would have the team's best opening chance as his shot from distance was saved by an outstretched Elgin goalkeeper.
 
Then in the tenth  minute, a shot by Alejandro Montalvo was deflected wide and the putback was just narrowly missed by an onrushing Noah Green. The Golden Eagles looked to be in control of the first half until a costly mistake led the visitors to take a 1-0 lead late in the first half.
 
Elgin would capitalize on a key mistake by Rock Valley in the 32^nd minute. As a through-ball was played, defender Joshua Ceniceros tracked it down and played back to goalkeeper Alyas Fritz. A poor clearance allowed Jesus Alonzo to recover the ball and convert the goal for the 1-0 lead.
 
"Mistakes are going to happen," said head coach Tim Romanello. "Our back five have been so good this year at minimizing dangerous situations and chances for the other team. So to see that happen, that's frustrating because you know it's the rare occasion."
 
HALF TIME: Rock Valley 0-1 Elgin
 
Slow to start most second halves this season, the Golden Eagles came out anything but Saturday afternoon. It looked like RVC would equalize early, as the Golden Eagles produced six shots in the second half's first 15 minutes, including Julio Davila's shot off the crossbar.
 
Off a restart, Julio Davila was played through down the right channel. Davila was able to attack the space wide of the Elgin defenders to play a cross for Alfredo Jimenez. Jimenez cleanly tucked the ball into the goal for the equalizer.
 
The 71^st minute goal would be just the start of some late-match drama. Rock Valley outshot Elgin 12-3 for the rest of regulation and both overtime periods. Ceniceros would nearly connect on a corner, as the defender's header was cleared off the goal line with ten minutes to play. Moments later, Julio Davila would feed his brother Roberto Davila for a one-touch shot that struck the post and ricocheted back into play. Four minutes later, both Davila's would see their point-blank chances saved by Elgin's goal keeper.
 
The best chance of the overtime periods was in the first ten-minute stanza, as Roberto Davila saw his free kick from 24 yards out parried away by the Spartan goalkeeper.
 
"You like to see the intensity and the response from the guys today," said head coach Tim Romanello following the game. "But we keep beating ourselves. A silly mistake in the back cost us a goal in the first half. Moreover, we had plenty of opportunities throughout the match that we missed on that compound our result unfortunately. But their energy, their response, their intent was good today."

This is the third concesutive game between Elgin and Rock Valley that has played to an overtime result. The two teams played to a thrilling 3-3 draw back in September 2019, then Rock Valley won a seven-goal thriller, 4-3, in the region tournament quarterfinal in overtime. Both teams are tied for fifth place in the ten-team District A side of Region IV.
 
FULL TIME (2 OT): Rock Valley 1-1 Elgin
 
Rock Valley College is 4-2-1 (1-0-1 Region 4). Elgin improves to 1-4-1 (1-0-1). The Golden Eagles are back in action Wednesday (Sep. 21) afternoon. The men will host Kennedy-King in their midweek matchup before returning to region play. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 pm cst.
 

Game Statistics
RVC	Stats	ELGIN
51.5	Possession	48.5
1	Goals	1
5	Saves	7
32 (12)	Shots (SOG)	13 (6)
7	Corners	0
268 (61%)	Passes (%)	203 (55%)