PALATINE, ILL. & WHITE BEAR LAKE, MINN. - The Madison College men's soccer team began a season-ending three-game road trip over the weekend, picking up a win and a loss in the process. The WolfPack used a second half goal and some outstanding defense to earn a North Central Community College Conference victory at Harper College by a 1-0 final on Friday. On Sunday, the 'Pack drove 255 miles northwest to White Bear Lake, Minnesota, for a non-conference and non-region match against Century College, but suffered a 3-1 setback that snapped a three-match win streak heading into the season's final match.

Match #1: Madison College 1, Harper College 0

Seeking some revenge for a home loss earlier this season, Madison College found itself in a defensive battle that remained scoreless through the first half of play. Harper College (6-5-1, 3-3-1) outshot the WolfPack 7-4 in the half, while the visitors were unable to take advantage of a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.

The match's lone goal was netted roughly 15 minutes into the second half as team scoring leader Toby Andrews converted an unassisted kick to make it 1-0 in the 61'. The reigning N4C MVP extended his consecutive goals scored streak to six matches, and now has a team-best 13 goals and 26 points. The Cambridge, England, native is now two goals shy of tying the school record for career goals, held by Patrick Houlihan ('02) with 30, as well as six-points back of Houlihan's total points record of 69.

The Hawks attempted five more shots following the WolfPack goal, but the Madison College defense and sophomore goalkeeper Blake Dehn were up to the challenge. Dehn tallied six saves and faced a total of 14 shots, two more than the 'Pack attempted against the Hawks goalie. For Dehn, a Danvers, Illinois, native, the second-consecutive clean sheet is his third of the season and fifth of his career.

The victory is just the second in the last eight meetings with Harper College, who owns a 12-7-1 advantage in the head-to-head count.

Match #2: Century College 3, Madison College 1

The brief winning streak came to a halt nearly four hours from campus Sunday when Madison College fell behind early en route to a two-goal loss at the hand of the NJCAA Division III Wood Ducks. Fresh off the bus, the WolfPack were quickly awakened by a Century College goal in the 3'. The ball pin-balled off several bodies before settling in the back of the net. The deficit grew to 2-0 around the 20-minute mark with yet another Century College (5-2-1) scoring strike.

The second half opened in much the same way, with the home team putting another tally on the scoreboard in the 52'. The WolfPack continued to fight as was able to prevent the shutout with a Matthew Johnson goal in the 85'. Johnson, a freshman defender/midfielder, converted a pass from fellow first year Vital Nizigiymana. The goal was the first career goal for the Madison, Wisconsin, native, who has notched three points over the last three games, while the assist is the first career helper for midfielder from Tucker, Georgia.

Playing opposite Century College (MN) for the first time in nearly a decade after splitting a home-and-home series in 2008, the WolfPack owned a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks and was even at six in the shots on goal count. Blake Dehn made three saves in goal, but saw a scoreless minutes streak of nearly 200 come to an end after back-to-back shutouts.

Up Next:

Madison College (8-5, 5-4) will play its regular season finale on Friday, October 6 at in-state rival Milwaukee Area Technical College (2-9, 0-8). The WolfPack are 38-15-2 all-time in the series, and have won ten straight matches against the Stormers, including a 3-2 win in Madison on September 8. MATC-Milwaukee is currently riding a six-match losing streak. Kickoff at the MATC Oak Creek Campus is at 4:00 p.m.

Follow WolfPack men's soccer: Facebook | Twitter