LOVES PARK, ILL. - Playing one of your toughest rivals on the road can sometimes require a little extra effort from a team's most experienced players, which is what the Madison College men's soccer team received Wednesday in an 8-2 thumping of Rock Valley College. Sophomores Dejesus Herrera and Brandon Griffin accounted for six goals and three assists - 15 points - in the North Central Community College Conference game that was relocated to an indoor field Mercy Health Sportscore Two due to severely wet conditions on the Golden Eagles home pitch. The WolfPack is now 9-2-1 all-time against RVC and have won seven straight games in the head-to-head series.

The Golden Eagles struck first with an assisted goal that got by freshman 'keeper Msughter Abel Dzoho in the 15'. Less than a minute later, Griffin converted the first of his three goals off a pass from fellow second-year Logan Carstens. Still even in the 30', Herrera began his scoring barrage off an Abel Araya assist to put the 'Pack ahead 2-1. The Madison, Wisconsin, native would make it a two-goal advantage with another successful kick five minutes before halftime. Freshman defender Evan Bartz recorded his first career assist on the play. Madison College would take a 3-2 lead into halftime after Rock Valley College (4-4, 2-3) added their final goal in the 42'.

The second half was all about the WolfPack, who outscored the Golden Eagle 5-0. Griffin, a native of Tucker, Georgia, notched his second goal of the game to reclaim the two-goal lead. Moments later the midfielder/forward then set up Herrera for his final goal of the day and his second consecutive hat trick after netting four goals against Illinois Valley Community College on Sunday. The roles flipped once again in the second half as a Herrera pass led to Griffin's first career three goal game. Before the game ended, the 'Pack tacked on two more goals by Eder Lavariega and Will Hamilton, with the former giving Herrera a second assist.

Herrera, a transfer from NCAA Division II University of Charleston, now has a dozen goals, four assists, and 28 points to lead Madison College in all three categories. Griffin boasts eight goals and two assists for 18 points.

Dzoho was credited with five saves and two goals allowed in playing the full 90 minutes for the first time all season while also making his four consecutive start.

Madison College, en route to improving to 4-1 in N4C play, racked up 20 total shots, 13 shots on goal, and five corner kicks, compared to 13 shots, seven shots on goal, and 12 corner kicks for RVC.

Up Next:

Madison College (6-2), winners of four straight, will step out of conference and region play to host Anoka-Ramsey (MN) Community College (4-4) as part of a men's-women's soccer doubleheader on Sunday at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East. The teams have only played once before, a 3-0 win by the Golden Rams in 2013. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m., and will be followed by the women's contest at 3:00 p.m.

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