Men's First Team Secures Win Against Strikers Fox Valley 1-0

ECFC’s Men’s First Team wins their MWPL away game this week 1-0 against Strikers Fox Valley last Saturday at Marmion Academy Stadium in Aurora, IL. 

GOALS:

Rooks: Dagatti 63’

The game started out with both teams fighting to gain possession of the ball. The Rooks utilised their passing to avoid Fox Valley’s pressure. Rook’ center back Quentin Benedetto set the scene for the defense early on with a sliding tackle in the 6th minute as a Fox Valley player ran toward the goal.

Shortly after, the Rooks’ offense pumped up the energy as well. Fox Valley earned a corner kick which then the Rooks quickly sent the ball out of the box and passed it upfield. With no hesitation, the Rooks’ offense were finding each other out in the field and creating opportunities to enter the opposing box.

Due to the sweltering weather conditions that day, both teams were issued a hydration break around the 27th minute. Players were able to get a drink of water while preparing to finish out the first half. 

After the break, the Rooks’ didn’t let the stop in action halt their momentum. The Rook’s dominated in the opposing side’s third of the field and were wanting to put themselves up on the scoreboard before the half ended. One last opportunity for a goal presented itself in the 41st minute when the Rooks initiated a corner kick from the left side. The ball was crossed but then bounced into the hands of the goalkeeper. No goals from either team after the first half ended.

After the start of the second half, the Rooks were still pushing the gas through their offensive lines. Lots of passes upfield and opportunities to make contact with the net, but Fox Valley’s defensive line put up a good fight.

In the 52nd minute, a Fox Valley offensive player crossed the ball from the left corner. Rooks’ defensive line brought the ball out but Fox Valley grabbed the rebound and shot the ball toward the goal. ECFC’s goalkeeper Joey Galante made a major save and threw the ball back to his teammates to reset the play. Galante was a brick wall and made multiple saves, ensuring to his teammates that he would keep his sheet clean for this game.

After more equal play by both teams in this intense match, in the 63rd minute Enzo Degatti brought the ball up the right side of the field. He was pressured by a Fox Valley defense player and quickly kicked the ball toward the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper couldn’t keep the ball in his hands, when Degatti found the perfect timing to take the rebound and swiftly shot the ball into the net.

The score now 1-0, Fox Valley started to bring the offensive heat. Many opportunities came about for Fox Valley to score a goal, but a goal was just inches away with many of their shots missing the goal just to the right or left. 

Another problem arose for the Fox Valley offensive line as Galante stood his ground in front of goal. As a Fox Valley player brought the ball into the right corner and successfully juked out one of the Rooks’ defensive players, Galante was in perfect position to block the Fox Valley player’s shot in the 84th minute.

In the dying embers of the second half, the game consisted of more back and forth, but both teams' defenses remained steadfast, ending the game with a 1-0 win for the Rooks. 

For the Men’s First Team’s next matchup, they will face the Chicago City Dutch Lions on June 28th back at Hoyne field at 1:00 PM as a part of a double header with the Women’s First Team, who play at 4:00 pm.