Matthew Ruggiero
Jim Garvey
4
Winner Harper College HARPER C (6-0-0, 6-0-0)
3
Madison College MADISON (2-4-1, 2-4-0)
Winner
Harper College HARPER C
(6-0-0, 6-0-0)
4
Final
3
Madison College MADISON
(2-4-1, 2-4-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Harper College HARPER C 2 2 4
Madison College MADISON 1 2 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Upset bid falls short as WolfPack lose second half lead

Madison College takes second one-goal loss against #6 Harper College

MADISON, WISC. - The home finale for the Madison College men's soccer team saw a second half lead disappear and was decided in the match's final minute. The WolfPack rallied for a 3-2 lead in the second half, only to have sixth-ranked and undefeated Harper College finish off a come-from-behind effort of their own to win a 4-3 match in the final minute. The Hawks have beaten the 'Pack by a single goal twice this season to assume a 20-8-1 record in the all-time series.

Harper College (6-0, 6-0) struck first with a goal two minutes into the game. They added to the lead with another succesful kick in the 18' to make it a 2-0 differential. Madison College cut the deficit to one before half with the second goal of the season for freshman Matthew Ruggiero. The former Madison West HS athlete converted a pass from sophomore Samuka Toure.

The second half featured a pair of quick strike goals from second year midfielder/forward Jonas Luckey Sanders. The Madison, Wisconsin, native came up with a loose ball after it pin-balled around on a corner kick, and was able to sneak it past the Hawks goalkeeper to even the score in the 49'. Three minutes later, Luskey Sanders was awarded a penalty kick following a Harper College foul, and netted it just inside the top left corner to give the WolfPack a 3-2 lead. It remained that way until the 73', when Harper College hit the equalizer. As the game seemed destined the head to extra time, the Hawks went for one final attack and it resulted in a deflected ball inside the goal area. The Hawks Nasser Hamad won the foot race to it and swiftly booted it past sophomore Sebastian Varela to win the match with 20 seconds left.

Varela finished with three saves on the night, and was under constant pressure with the visitors registering a 19-6 advantage in total shots and a 7-4 lead in shots on goal. The WolfPack finished with three goals on four shots on goal.

The two-goal performance by Luskey Sanders is the first of his career, and give him three goals on the season and five for his career. He also led the team in total shots with three. 

Prior to the game, Madison College recognized the team's five-member class of second year players during a Sophomore Night ceremony. That group includes Varela, Toure, Luskey Sanders, Omar Torres, and Jheison Garcia.

Up Next:

Madison College (2-4-1, 2-4) was scheduled to play at Elgin Community College on Sunday, May 9, however, the match was postponed. A make-up date has yet to be announced. The WolfPack are scheduled to begin Region 4 Division III Tournament play with a quarterfinal match on Saturday, May 15. 

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