Box Score RIVER FOREST, Ill. - Dreams of a Cinderella run to the NACC Tournament Championship for the Edgewood College men's soccer team ended on Saturday at West Campus Field with a 3-0 loss to Dominican University. The Stars scored all three of their goals in the first half and held on for the victory. Edgewood College concludes their season with a record of 11-7-3, marking their highest win total since 2009.
Dominican University (12-4-2) pressed forward early and were rewarded with four corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of the match. The fourth one paid off for the Stars when Eli Sherman headed home Ryan Ybarra's corner for a 1-0 lead. Edgewood College managed one first half shot, a drive in the 31st minute from Evan Rogaczewski which was saved by Dominican goalkeeper Gabriel Gongora.
Dominican struck again on a header from a corner kick in the 36th minute, this time with RJ Dralle scoring the goal. Then just over a minute later, Eagle goalkeeper Chad Stivers made a save on a shot from the Stars' Neftali Alejendre, but ended being pushed back into the Eagles' net for an unfortunate own goal and a 3-0 Stars lead.
With nothing to lose Edgewood College pushed forward in the second half, trying to get back into the match. Rogaczewski and Andrew Aurit forced saves, and the Eagles failed to capitalize on two corner kicks in the first 10 minutes. In the 86th minute, the Eagles had a chance to get a least one goal back, but Kelmend Isaj's penalty kick was saved by Gongora to preserve the shutout. In all, the Eagles outshot the Stars 10-6 in the second half and had four shots on goal.
Dominican University won their eighth straight NACC Tournament Championship and advances to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 12th season in a row.
With the end of the season, came the end of the collegiate careers of four seniors, Andrew Aurit, Evan Conrad, Diego Lema-Hernandez and Aliou Traore.