Men’s First Team Falls to Rockford FC 3-1

The Men’s First Team hit the road to play at Wedgbury Stadium in Caledonia, IL for their MWPL matchup against Rockford FC this Saturday, but fell short in a 3-1 loss. After the Rooks won at Hoyne against Strikers Fox Valley the week prior, they were unable to get a win away. 

GOALS:

Rooks: Aguilera 43’

Rockford: 63’, 77’ 89’

The first half started with a lot of back and forth play between the Rooks and Rockford, both teams anxious to score. During the 4th and 5th minute, the Rooks earned three corner kicks from the top left corner, but were unsuccessful in their first attempts to put them on the scoreboard. 

Defense was on fire for both teams, neither one letting the other attempt a shot in their box. In the 11th minute of the game, a Rockford player brought the ball up the left side of the field. Defense player Rafael Santos kept pressure on the opposing player and found his moment to initiate a slide tackle, setting the tone early on. 

The first half was physical between the two teams, each player on the field fought for the ball to obtain offensive possession. Both teams played good offense, but also focused on having a strong defense line. The Rooks had opportunities for goals but could not make contact with the net or were interfered by Rockford defense players. In the 36th minute Milos Vucic crossed the ball from the right side and Eduardo “Lalo” Aguilera hit a header just left of the goal, an unsuccessful shot on goal.

Finally in the 43rd minute, The Rooks were on the scoreboard. The Rooks started with a free kick from the left side. Aguilera snuck from the back and stood unmarked on the right side of the goal. The ball reached Aguilera’s foot where he swiftly shot the ball past the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner of the net. The first half ended with the Rooks up 1-0.

After halftime, both teams stepped up the energy in their offense and defense lines. The Rooks utilized their passing to get around the Rockford players, especially the Rooks defense, who passed effortlessly to each other to avoid Rockford offensive pressure.

In the 63rd minute, A ball was passed from the left side to a Rockford player who was standing in front of the goal. The Rockford player was able to get the ball around ECFC keeper Aidan Crawford by sending the ball straight past Crawford’s left side into the bottom corner of the net. Rockford FC tied the game up 1-1.

The match got more physical with fouls called on both the Rooks and Rockford players throughout the second half. With more physicality came more shots on goal throughout the match.

In the 77th minute, Crawford made a successful deflection of the ball as a Rockford player took a shot on goal. The Rockford offense was then able to obtain the ball and one player crossed it to the box. From the top right corner of the box, another Rockford player was able to shoot the ball into the net above Crawford’s head who attempted to make a jumping save. Rockford put themselves up one more on the scoreboard, making it 2-1.

The Rooks put more motion into their offense, but the Rockford defense line also grew stronger. Multiple shots on goals were made by the Rooks but could not make contact with the net. In the 89th minute of the game, Vucic fell to the ground after Rockford defense snatched the ball from up. The ball was sent to the middle to another Rockford player who went 1v1 with Crawford. The Rockford player made a touch past Crawford and was able to kick the ball into an empty net. 

The dying embers of the second half consisted of the Rooks trying to keep possession, but as the clock was running out, so was their momentum. The match ultimately ended 3-1.

While the result was not what the Men’s First Team had hoped for, the Rooks will have another opportunity for a win on June 14th at 7:00 pm at Hoyne Field against Chicago Ghost FC for their next MWPL matchup.