JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College men's soccer team fell in heartbreaking fashion on Friday afternoon at England Stadium, allowing a strike from Martin Zafirov with 15 seconds remaining in regulation in a 1-0 loss to Monmouth College. The loss drops IC to 5-8-2 (1-3-0 Midwest Conference) on the season.
Though Monmouth created more chances in the match, Illinois College was dangerous on the counter throughout the afternoon which made for an entertaining encounter despite the lack of goals.
Brock Ziegemeier,
Cade Trautvetter and
Jared Haynes all had shots on goal in the first half which required saves from Kieren Marshall to keep the score level. Rubalcava also made three saves in the first half and the teams went to the break at 0-0.
As time ticked away in a scoreless second half, the match was determined by two plays, one on each side of the field. With less than five minutes remaining in the second half, Illinois College was fouled and had a free kick from the left wing.
Thomas Saitta drove a low ball through the box and Marshall found himself at IC's mercy, only for the ball to make its way all the way through the box without a touch which almost surely would have made it 1-0 in favor of the Blueboys.
With just seconds remaining and overtime looming, Monmouth had the ball in IC's half of midfield. In what would have been a speculative shot at any other point of the game, Zafirov blasted a ball from more than 25 yards out but he connected with it perfectly and found an upper corner despite Rubalcava's diving attempt. With only seconds remaining, the Blueboys were unable to offer up an answer.
Rubalcava ended the day with four saves. Trautvetter led the Blueboys with two shots.
Illinois College goes on the road on Sunday, battling Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa at 3:30 p.m.
