MADISON, Wis. – After struggling to generate offense in their previous three matches, the Edgewood College men's soccer team put four goals on the board in defeating Lakeland College 4-2 on Saturday at Breese Stevens Field. Evan Rogaczewski scored twice, while Garrett Lee and Jesse Greenwood each had a goal and an assist.
Edgewood College (6-9, 3-5 NACC) broke their scoreless drought in the 11th minute. Greenwood made a move on the right wing and was taken down by a Lakeland College (2-13, 1-6 NACC) defender for a penalty kick. Rogaczewski made it count with a well-placed shot for a 1-0 lead. Lakeland College leveled the game 10 minutes later when Zac Kline finished off a loose ball from right in front of the net.
The final 10 minutes of the first half turned out to be wild. First, Greenwood broke free down the right side and placed a cross into the box for Lee. Lee hammered his shot into the roof of the net for a 2-1 Eagles lead. In the 41st minute, Edgewood College was awarded a free kick from the corner of the box. Rogaczewski placed a beautiful, bending shot inside the left post, beating Lakeland goalkeeper Logan Massey for a 3-1 lead.
However, it appeared the Muskies would pull back with one goal in the 44th minute. The Muskies' Mirko Tadic was granted a penalty shot, but Eagle goalkeeper Kyle Wood came up with a huge diving save to maintain the Eagles two-goal lead going into halftime.
Lakeland College turned up the offensive pressure in the second half and were rewarded in the 65th minute. Franco Herrera stole the ball from an Eagle defender and laced a low shot to the right corner to trim the Edgewood College lead to 3-2. This day, the Eagles held strong and posted an insurance goal in the 82nd minute. Luke Miller's through ball found a running Lee, who slid a cross to Greenwood. Greenwood's finish put the Eagles ahead 4-2 where they would hang on to secure the win.
Wood made eight saves for the Eagles, including the huge stop on Tadic's penalty kick. Lakeland held a 24-13 advantage in shots. For Rogaczewski, the two goals marked his first career multi-goal game.
The win keeps Edgewood College alive for a NACC Tournament berth with nine points in the standings. The top six teams will qualify for the postseason. The Eagles will take to the road next Wednesday against Wisconsin Lutheran College at 7:00 p.m.
