LOVES PARK, ILL. - The Madison College women's soccer team came up one goal short of advancing to their first Region 4 Division II Tournament Championship on Tuesday with a 2-1 loss against defending champion Rock Valley College. Sophomore Yessenia Angeles scored the only goal for the #3-seeded WolfPack; however, the #2-seeded Golden Eagles answered with a game-winning goal in the 77' to claim the semifinal match. Madison College finishes their season with a 12-3-1 record overall.

The match was moved indoors due to recent rains and wet playing conditions on RVC's home field. The Golden Eagles struck early with a goal in the 7'. An attempted header to clear a pass into the penalty box did not go as planned for the WolfPack, and the redirected ball ended up on the right side of the goalie box. That's where Sara Holguin stepped in and booted a shot past freshman goalkeeper Kaelyn Welch to give the home team an early advantage.

Madison College struggled to generate much offense in the first half, which finished with a 3-0 edge in shots on goal for Rock Valley College (16-2-1). That changed immediately as the second half started and the WolfPack was awarded a free kick from just above the penalty arc. After two players ran fake shot attempts past the ball, Angeles, a midfielder from Madison, Wisconsin, bent a kick around the RVC block and off the hands of the diving goalkeeper. The deflection just squeezed inside the right post for her third goal of the season and of her career.



Playing the score tied 1-1, the defenses began to take hold on both side of midfield. Rock Valley College was denied on a 53' header and Madison College's Lexi Huebner was wide on a shot in the 73'. A corner kick for RVC in the 77' was sent right towards the near post by Emma Ambrose, and as Welch leaped to bat it away, the ball slipped through her hands and into the net for the game-winner.

Welch turned away two more shots on goal to help keep her team within striking distance; however, Madison College did not attempt another shot the rest of the match. The Golden Eagles compiled a 9-2 advantage in total shots and a 7-1 edge in shots on goal. The home team also held a 4-2 lead in corner kicks. 

Welch finished with five saves and two goals allowed. Angeles and Huebner were the lone WolfPack players to attempt a shot.

This was the second meeting this season between the two teams, with the first ending in a 1-1 draw on September 18 in Madison. Rock Valley College leads the all-time series by a narrow 10-8-2 tally, with both teams having earned a head-to-head win in postseason play.



Follow WolfPack women's soccer: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram