Box Score

MADISON, Wis. – The Edgewood College men's soccer team has worked hard to control their own path into the Northern Athletics Conference season. So when Rockford College tied the match at 2-2 and threatened to take that control away the Eagles' sense of urgency was palpable. It wasn't until the 82nd minute when senior Michael Bollig struck for his first goal as an Eagle that the team collectively exhaled and claimed a 3-2 win Senior Day victory.

Things appeared they were going to be easy early in the game. Junior Paul Domann struck twice in the first eight minutes to give Edgewood College (7-6-3, 5-4-1 NAC) a fast 2-0 lead. The first goal was a rocket from just outside the penalty area, off a short pass from senior Matt Pampuch. The second goal was set up by a beautiful cross from the right corner by Sam Quinones to Domann stalking the net from the six-yard line.

The Eagles didn't add to their total, but the first half seemed well in hand until Rockford College's Jabil Chaaban got loose down the right sideline. Chabaan took a pass from Matt Nicholson and scored past Eagle goalkeeper Kyle Koenig just 44 seconds before halftime to cut the Eagle lead in half.

The collars on the Eagle players really tightened in the 55th minute. Nicholson's blast for Rockford College (4-12, 0-10 NAC) from 20 yards out evened the match at two and put the pressure squarely on the Eagles.

Over the next 26 minutes, Edgewood College peppered the Regents' net with 12 shots. Six were saved by Rockford goalkeeper Mick Goulding, while Jacob Overman's 79th minute drive clanged off the crossbar. Head coach Tim Alexander sent starting forwards Andrew Aurit and Domann back into the lineup in the 82nd minute and earned an instant reward. Domann carried the ball deep into Regent territory, almost touching the end line left of the goal and then slid a pass back to the middle. Bollig ran onto it at about the penalty mark and banged it home for the game-winner.

Edgewood College outshot Rockford 34-6, but Goulding kept the Regents in the game with 12 saves. His counterpart Koenig made three saves to earn the Senior Day victory. Edgewood College can now clinch a Northern Athletics Conference Tournament berth with a win next Tuesday at Maranatha Baptist. The Eagles missed the tournament by a single point last season.