PALATINE, ILL. - On Tuesday, the Madison College men's soccer team entered the NJCAA Division III Poll for the first time this season as the #6-ranked team in the nation thanks to a five-match win streak. On Wednesday, the streak ended on an overtime goal as Harper College defeated the WolfPack 3-2. The Hawks extend their win streak against the 'Pack to nine straight and increased their lead in the all-time series to 21-8-1. 

Harper College (5-2, 3-1), the reigning North Central Community College Conference and Region 4 champions, raced out to a 2-0 lead on their home pitch. The Hawks scored assisted goals against the WolfPack defense and sophomore goalkeeper Sullivan Schwitters in the 12' and 21'. 

Madison College was able to answer before the first half concluded, using a 33' scoring strike to cut the two-goal deficit in half. Sophomore Jheison Garcia set up first year forward Isaak Cordova for his fifth goal of the season. It remained 2-1 for another 45 minutes before the WolfPack netted the equalizer off the foot of sophomore Matthew Ruggiero. The forward from Rome, Italy, booted an Evan Thom pass to tie the score at 2-2. The goal was Ruggiero's third this fall. 

Both teams were able to generate one more shot at the goal before regulation ended, with the Hawks sending one wide and the WolfPack's Jose Gonzalez being turned away as the clock ran out. The match went to overtime, and as the 96' began, Madison College was whistled for a penalty in the box. Harper College took advantage and Aaron Bustamente's second goal of the day got by Schwitters to give the Hawks the win.

The match was extremely close statistically, with the visiting WolfPack owning a 7-6 edge in shots on goal and Harper College generating a 16-13 lead in total shots. Schwitters, a native of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, made two saves. 

Up Next:

Madison College (5-2, 3-1), locked in a three-way tie atop the N4C standings, is back on the home pitch Saturday, September 25 to face N4C foe Joliet Junior College (1-4, 1-3). The WolfPack beat the Wolves by a 3-1 final on September 1 to extend a streak of nine straight matches without a loss, including five consecutive wins, and giving the 'Pack a narrow 13-12-4 lead in the all-time series. Game time is set for noon at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East. 

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