Rooks Men's Lose Close Matchup 2-1
- Gareth Mullins
- May 26
- 2 min read
CHICAGO - Edgewater Castle FC’s Men’s First Team faced tough opponents RKC Third Coast at Winnemac Stadium May 24th, losing their first home game since 2024 2-1.
GOALS:
EDGEWATER:
1’ - Jack Mcfeeley (A Rui Reis)
RKC THIRD COAST:
74’ - Bienvenu Djunga
95’ - Nicholas Pendleton (P)
First Half
The Rooks started the game hot, scoring a goal within the first minute. As soon as Edgewater had possession of the ball, the offense rushed forward past RKC’s defenders. Midfielder Rui Reis maneuvered the ball through RKC’s backline, finding forward Jack McFeely in goal-scoring position. With McFeely’s shot soaring past RKC goalkeeper Nicholas Diana, Edgewater gained an early advantage.
The game following the goal, however, was a tight stalemate. While both teams produced shots on goal, Rooks defenders Quentin “Q” Benedetto and Takeru Chiba as well as RKC defender Fabian Alvarez limited offensive shifts on both sides of the pitch. The midfield was hotly contested too; in preventing the Rooks’ efforts, both Alvarez and RKC forward Nicholas Cenek would draw yellow cards in the 39th and 45th minute respectively. After much back and forth, the deadlock would continue into halftime, the Rooks leading 1-0.
Second Half
Momentum would shift in RKC’s favor with the addition of forward Bienvenu Djunga, who was subbed on for RKC’s Michael Ramirez in the beginning of the second half. Djunga gave RKC’s offense new life, capitalizing on his speed and ball control to put the Rooks on the backfoot. Continuing to mount pressure - and making Rooks defender Alan Rubio draw a card in the 67th - Djunga would eventually break into the Rooks’ goal, scoring in the 74th minute.
With the match now tied, Edgewater goalkeeper Joey Galante stepped up to keep the Rooks in the game. With Djunga and the rest of RKC’s forwards continuing to strike on goal, Galante made two huge stops, diving right to knock the ball away from net in the 76th and deflecting a powerful strike in the 86th.
The action peaked in extra time as RKC made a final push for three points. Halting their efforts, Benedetto drew a yellow at 90’, RKC’s Hudson Torrez responding in kind at 93’. Subbed on in the 92nd, ECFC defender Tobias Wimmer prevented a goal from RKC in the dying embers with a penalty-causing tackle in their box. Nicholas Pendleton would step up to take it in the 95th, securing the 2-1 lead to end the match.
The Men’s First Team continues the season May 28 against Sueño FC. Kickoff at Holmgren Athletic Complex is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Streaming is available at edgewatercastlefc.com. Tickets are available for purchase here.
