By: A tightly-contested match went to the Foresters on Sunday, with a goal late in the first half being the difference.
Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – There was little separating the Illinois College men's soccer team from visiting Lake Forest on Sunday, but a goal just a few minutes before halftime was all it took for the Foresters to nab all three points from the Blueboys. The 1-0 Lake Forest victory drops IC to 8-5-2 (4-2-1 Midwest Conference) on the year.
Early on, Illinois College was on the front foot against the Foresters. The first five shots all belonged to the Blueboys, with Lake Forest keeper Ian Taylor forced into two saves. The tide began to turn as the half progressed and the Foresters ended up outshooting IC, 9-7, in the first 45 minutes. The teams almost made it to halftime scoreless, until a quick-developing play saw LFC go out in front.
In the 38th minute, Illinois College restarted action with a goal kick, but the ball quickly came back the other way with Elyas Ingram running down a header from the midfield and narrowly winning a footrace against Blueboy keeper
Scott Workman for possession. The ball took a deflection back to Kyle Kraus who one-touched it back ahead to Ingram, who slotted home past a diving save attempt by defender
Andrew Matheney.
In the second half, Lake Forest began firing away from long range. The Foresters ended the second half with 16 shot attempts, though few actually bothered Workman or backup
Ty Clearwater. The best chances for Illinois College to find the tying goal came first in the 66th minute on a header from
Michael Hernandez that stayed high of the frame. Later,
Jordan Blair headed wide and
Brock Chartier sailed a shot high from just outside the 18-yard box.
"Lake Forest played like defending MWC champions today," said Head Coach
Tyler Sheikh. "Chris (Bergmann) had a great gameplan and his team executed. However, I can't say enough about the grit my guys showed in the face of giving up a tough goal late in the first half. Despite being stretched while we went in search of the equalizer, we gave it our all and had some chances. The guys will look forward to the challenge of the last three games and be ready for next weekend."
Ingram was the key offensive player for Lake Forest in the match. The imposing freshman ended the day with seven shot attempts. A total of five Blueboys attempted two shots in the match. Workman made eight saves, but suffered the defeat to slip to 7-4-2.
Next up for Illinois College is a match at Carroll on Oct. 25. The Pioneers and Blueboys will get started in Waukesha, Wis. at 11 a.m.
