By: After tying the match with just over two minutes remaining, the Blueboys leaked the game-winning goal for the Pioneers in the final 60 seconds.
Box Score
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Illinois College men's soccer team was minutes away from grabbing a Midwest Conference victory on Saturday afternoon, but Grinnell College scored three times in the final seven minutes to come away with a 3-2 win over the Blueboys. IC is now 1-6-2 (0-3-0 MWC) on the season, while the Pioneers improve to 7-4-0 (3-1-0 MWC).
Illinois College took an early lead as
Nick Copley put away an unassisted effort to beat Grinnell goalkeeper Major May. That 1-0 lead lasted the rest of the first half with
Ty Clearwater not even required to make a save.
In the second half, Grinnell had a shot from Nick Brule in the 56th minute cleared off the line by the Illinois College defense and Clearwater was finally called into action in the 66th minute after the referee called a foul on IC in the box. Clearwater saved the penalty kick from Brule to keep the Blueboys ahead and he then stopped a shot from Artis Curiskis in the 73rd minute.
With time winding down, Grinnell sent out six fresh bodies in the 78th minute and it paid dividends quickly as Curiskis scored in the 84th minute to tie the match at 1-1. It got worse as Brule scored in the 87th minute to put the Pioneers in position to get the win with a 2-1 lead.
After a shot from
Brock Ziegemeier was pushed wide by May and out for a corner kick in the 88th minute,
Roger Mies took a corner kick and Grinnell was whistled for a foul in the penalty area. Mies stepped up and scored with two minutes remaining in the match to make it 2-2 and seemingly send the match into an extra session. But with time ticking down, Antonio DiMarco took a corner kick and found Josh Lavin who snuck the ball home with 50 seconds left to give the Pioneers the game-winner.
Clearwater ended with three saves in the match for the Blueboys. Copley, Ziegemeier and
Brock Chartier all had two shots on the day for the IC attack.
Illinois College ends its weekend tomorrow with a non-conference match against Dominican University (IL). The Blueboys and Stars face off in River Forest, Ill. beginning at 2:30 p.m.
