ON TO THE FINAL !

Robinson, IL - On Saturday your Statesmen took on the Cougars of Illinois Central College in a regional Semi-Final held at Statesman Park during a blustery day with winds exceeding 30 mph.  

It was the third game between the two sides this year having split the results to this point with each team winning on their home field. There was also history from last season as the sides had met in the same fixture, with ICC the victors on that occasion. This only sparked intensity from the first whistle as both sides were looking for the chance to travel to Godfrey Illinois next Saturday to take on the Trail Blazers of Lewis and Clark college in the regional final.  

Things got off to a heated start as both teams started the game employing new tactics from the previous contest so the first minutes were spent pressing both teams and understanding how each other were going to push for the result. Several fouls early on led the referee to issue yellow cards to both teams within the first twenty minutes, doing his best to allow the physicality that comes with post-season play, while also allowing the game to develop a flow. 

Momentum looked to be leaning towards the Statesmen as they were able to get several chances early on in the game but were unable to find the back of the net until the twenty ninth minute when #21 Benjamin Pena played a soaring ball into the box. Held up by the wind, it gave #9 Guilherme Melchiori time to get under the ball, and set it up perfectly for #10 Ryosuke Miyata who slotted the ball perfectly into the top of the goal, freezing the keeper on the line and putting your Statesmen up 1-0! The goal was Melchiori's fourth assist of the year, and Miyata's tenth goal. 

ICC immediately pressed high following the goal, pushing high and winning a free kick in the Statesmen half. They played quickly, sending a looping ball into the back post which was not successfully cleared and after some confusion and congestion in the box, the cougars were able to sneak one into the far post making the score 1-1 less than two minutes after your Statesmen had taken the lead.  

The score would stay tied into halftime as both teams looked to rest from the intensity of the first half.  

Going into the second half, the intensity and energy of both teams only rose as it got nearer and nearer to the final whistle. Both teams wanted to not only win the game, but do so in a statement making fashion. The tackles got harder, the sprints got faster, and the balls became more direct. With the higher intensity, both sides were handed yellow cards throughout the second half. Both sides also pushed to find the winning goal but were unable to do so in regular time pushing the game into Overtime.  

In the NJCAA Overtime consists of: Two ten-minute halves separated by a five-minute halftime if needed. If needed because NJCAA overtime is also Golden Goal meaning first team to score, wins the game. The Statesmen were well aware of this stipulation.  

Going into the first overtime, the Statesmen were playing against the wind but didn't let that effect their determination to find the winning goal. Chances came in quickly at both ends but the deciding moment came from a corner kick played in by #7 Leo Sanches. The ball was driven into the near post where the keeper attempted to get a punch on it but all he did was bounce it perfectly for #18 Inchun Han who dived in front of his defender, getting his head onto the ball and firing it into the roof of the net and sending Statesmen Park into a frenzy! 

The win capped off a historic home season for the Statesmen as they secured an undefeated record at Statesmen Park AND sets them up for a revenge match against Lewis and Clark in the Regional Final this Saturday.  

The crowd support was fantastic, the energy in the park was ecstatic, and the result was everything the Statesmen could have wanted. Thank you all for the support as the Statesmen continue to push for more history for the program on Saturday! 

GO STATESMEN!!! 

#ROLLTRAIL