Box Score (Rockford, IL) - Marian University won their first Northern Athletics Conference on Saturday as they defeated Rockford College 5-1. The Regents scored first in the contest, but the Sabres were able to score four times in the second period to move to 4-5 on the season.
The Regents scored in the 27th minute to take a 1-0 lead, but Marian's Jose Hernandez (Sheboygan Falls, WI) answered right back less than two minutes later with assists from Everett Zank (Sun Prairie, WI) and Ali Makadji (Lansing, MI).
The Sabres broke the 1-1 halftime tie in a big way in the second period. At the 47:48 mark, Matt Pena (Burlington, WI) scored the eventual game-winner as he had some help from Makadji and Peter Xiong (Fond du Lac, WI). Kevin Schulze (Sheboygan, WI) scored in the 61st minute as Xiong picked up his second assist on the goal.
The Sabres tacked on two more goals with less than ten minutes to play as Milan Stupar (Grayslake, IL) and Jim Chavez (Platteville, WI) both scored. Zank assisted on Stupar's goal.
Marian is back in action again on Tuesday as they will play at Edgewood College.
Coach Peltonen's Quotes
“Rockford in the past has been a rather weak opponent, but this year's team, is a competitive one. They battle, are organized, and on their home field (a football one) they are a difficult team to break down. We once again started out flat, probably due to the players past experience with Rockford, and so I subbed rather quickly. Because of our results in the past few games, I got the feeling our guys were pressing a bit. Something like not wanting to make a mistake or not putting it all on the line to have something to fall back on. After being scored on first, our guys reacted quickly and came back to score almost immediately. Everett Zank dribbled inside from the left, slotted a ball in that Ali Makadji one touched on to a slant running Lupe Hernandez, who put it away on a one touch. After our goal, the team seemed to be reinvigorated and we finished out the half well and went in 1-1.”
“At half we talked about good teams need to play consistently, no matter who the opponent is. We also talked about how they were organized and how we needed to try and break them down. Our guys responded well and scored 3 minutes into the half on a great sequence of passing starting with Kevin Mawhinney winning the ball at in the midfield, Matt Pena knocking a 30 yard diagonal pass to Noah Styer, Noah dropping it to Peter Xoing with Peter changing the point of attack again with a diagonal pass over their back four that Ali Makadji slip heads to an on running Pena who strikes it first time into the goal. Just a great goal! We weather Rockford's comeback attempts and scored again 14 minutes later off a counter initiated by our keeper Nick Henkemeyer. He caught a cross from Rockford, quickly ran up a few yards, and made a 20 yard throw to Peter Xiong. Peter carried the ball 35 yards and made a great penetrating pass on the ground to a diagonally running Kevin Schulze who put it away on his 2nd touch. Our fourth goal was another diagonal pass, this time from Everett Zank who found Milan Stupar at the far post. Our final goal was a Beckam like free kick from Jim Chavez that he put over the wall and into the upper corner.”
“We got the monkey off our back with the win and scored some great goals as well. A well-deserved win that should boost our confidence going into Madison on Tuesday to play another NAC foe, Edgewood.”
“Game balls go to Matt Pena, Milan Stupar, Peter Xiong, Ali Makadji, Everett Zank, Jim Chavez, Kevin Schulze, and Lupe Hernandez for their goals and assists and Nick Henkemeyer for his excellent play in the goal.”
