0-2 DEFICIT AGAINST THE TRAILBLAZERS

Godfrey, IL - On Saturday the 23rd, your Statesmen traveled to Godfrey Illinois to take on the Trailblazers of Lewis and Clarke college after a 10-day break in their schedule between games. Previous to this math, the Statesmen and Trailblazers had competed in a region contest at Statesmen Park resulting in a 2-1 win for your Statesmen.  

Going into the contest Your Statesmen were looking to improve on their national ranking and lock in the regular season title for the region. Struggling with injuries throughout the season, Your Statesmen were still not able to travel with a fully fit squad for this contest.  

The game started with immediate intensity and energy from both teams with high physicality and several fouls called early in the game. Things would start to take a turn for the worse when the Statesmen were called for a handball in the box resulting in a penalty converted by a Trailblazer and setting the score at 0-1 which is how it would stay into the half.  

Heading into the second half, The Statesmen looked to get on the board bringing the intensity level up and getting several chances to finish early in the half, but the shots were either saved, or off target. Still, the intensity of the game would only continue to rise as the physical nature continued to get more and more chippy between the teams with many yellows being issued throughout the second half.  

On a controversial call, the Trailblazers were able to get behind the backline of your Statesmen, creating a one-on-one chance which they finished putting the score at 0-2 for the Trailblazers.  

Your statesmen wouldn't go away without a fight however putting many chances into the box and doing what they could to gain some momentum back which looked likely when #10 Ryosuke Miyata went through on goal before being taken down just outside the box and the resulting free kick was sent over the bar.  

The Statesmen continued the attacking onslaught, winning more than 4 corners within the last several minutes of the game but were not able to convert any of their chances, leaving the score at 0-2 at the final whistle and handing the Statesmen their first region loss of the season, and their overall record to 6-2-1.  

They will look to get back on a winning track this coming Wednesday when they travel to Carl Sandburg College for a 2 p.m. game.  

Thank you to all our supporters and Go Statesmen! 

#RollTrail!