Clash of two strong programs

Normal, IL - On Tuesday your Statesmen travelled to Normal where they took on the #13 Hawks of Heartland Community College (D2) in their final regular season game for the year before post-season play starts at the end of the week.  

With only a few days between this game and the regional semi-finals it was evident that the focus was stretched in multiple ways as your Statesmen got off to a rocky start giving up two goals within the first 17 minutes to the Hawks.  

Coach Milla shifted some things around with the team and make some substitutions and the Statesmen reacted accordingly. Dominating the rest of the first half and putting several chances on frame, they went into halftime still down 0-2 but with all the momentum in their favor and looking to pounce on every opportunity they could.  

Coming out of halftime, your Statesmen made two more changes to increase the pressing ability of the team and it paid off. After pressing relentlessly for the first 20 minutes of the second half, your Statesmen won a free kick close to the Hawks box on the right side, setting it up perfectly for the left foot of #7 Leonardo Sanches. After a shaky start to the game, Leo stepped up when the team needed him most. Firing his free kick on goal, it dipped right in front of the keeper who couldn't take it cleanly letting it into the far corner of the goal and getting your Statesmen on the scoreboard AND opening Sanches' goal account for the season! 

The momentum continued for your Statesmen as less than two minutes later #19 Harumi Yunaiyama (playing from left back for the day) cut inside onto his stronger right foot, and fired a laser into the far top corner, sending the opposing keeper flying but it was completely out of reach. The goal was assisted by #10 Ryosuke Miyata and was Yunaiyama's second goal in as many games and bringing his season tally to 6.  

Your Statesmen would continue to press and force more chances late into the game but were unable to find a winning goal with the final whistle blowing and the score standing at 2-2. The Statesmen will look to continue the positive momentum they found the second half when they face Illinois Central College at home this Saturday in the Semi-Finals of their region tournament looking to book a trip to the final, and a birth into the district tournament and then Nationals next month. 

Thank you for your support and GO STATESMEN! 

#ROLLTRAIL!