MADISON, WISC. - The regular season finale proved to be an epic for the North Central Community College Conference men's soccer crown, and in the end, Madison College and Harper College played to a 2-2 draw after 110 minutes of intense play. The defending champion Hawks will reclaim the title courtesy of a narrow 3-2 decision over the WolfPack more than three weeks prior. The draw did snap a nine-match losing streak against Harper College, who still leads the all-time series by a 21-8-2 count.
The winner-take-all match started out in favor of the home team, with Madison College striking with a goal in 8' from freshman
Isaak Cordova. The forward from DeKalb, Illinois, took a centering pass from fellow first year
Erick Antimo and headed the ball just inside the far post. The goal was Cordova's fourth in the last three matches and 11th overall this season.
The one-goal lead held for 55 minutes until Harper College busted through with a game-tying goal. The Hawks carried that momentum into another goal in the 76' and assumed a 2-1 advantage.
The match seemed to turn in the 80' when a red card assessed to Harper College gave the WolfPack a man-advantage, for which they were able to tally the equalizing goal off the foot of sophomore
Jonas Luskey Sanders in the 85'. A loose ball following a corner kick made its way to Sanders just outside the penalty box, and the midfielder/forward from Madison, Wisconsin, blasted a shot past a sprawling Hawks goalkeeper to even the score. The former Madison East HS athlete now boasts a team-best 12 goals.
The match remained tied through rest of regulation, as well as two overtime sessions. The WolfPack continued to put pressure on the Harper College net, with four shots in the final five minutes of regulation, including a shot on goal by
Matthew Ruggiero. After no shots were generated by either team in the first overtime, Madison College came up empty in the second overtime on a corner kick and another shot from Ruggiero.
Madison College finished with three more total shots and an 11-5 edge in shots on goal. Second year forward
Lucas Martin-Heid paced the 'Pack with three shots on goal. Goalkeeper
Sebastian Varela picked up a pair of saves.
Prior to the match, the nine-member Sophomore Class of 2021 was honored, which included
Sebastian Varela,
Jonas Luskey Sanders,
Omar Torres,
Jesus Arvizo,
Jheison Garcia,
Matthew Ruggiero,
Evan Thom,
Lucas Martin-Heid, and
Sullivan Schwitters.
Up Next:
Madison College (10-3-1, 6-1-1) and Harper College (11-4, 6-1-1) will meet again on Tuesday, October 19 in the 2021 NJCAA Region 4 Division III Tournament Semifinals. The WolfPack are the tournament's top seed, while the Hawks are the #4 seed. The two programs have met five times in the postseason, with Harper College leading 4-1 in those matched. The lone 'Pack victory came in 2015. Kickoff at
Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East is at 3:00 p.m. The winner will advance to the 2021 NJCAA Region 4 Division III Tournament Championship on Saturday, October 23 at the site of the higher remaining seed.
Watch the game live at
MadisonCollege.tv.
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