(Sugar Grove, IL) – On a bright, sunny afternoon Waubonsee Community College's Men's Soccer team hosted Moraine Valley Community College in their home opener, downing the Cyclones 4-2 behind a pair of goals by Eric Anderson. The Chiefs (1-2, 1-0) maintained the upper hand throughout much of the first half keeping the pressure on the visiting Cyclones (0-3, 0-1) with a 7-1 edge in corner kicks on the way to holding a 2-0 lead. Moraine Valley then rallied in the second half to make the first Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference match of the 2023 season for each team a close battle. The outcome was still in doubt late in the game until Waubonsee tacked on an insurance goal to hold on for the victory. 

Just five minutes into the game Eduardo Cepeda got past a Cyclones' defender and took a left-footed shot from the left wing about 17 yards out. Moraine Valley keeper Rylan Decker dove and deflected the ball to the far side of net, where the Chiefs' Anderson tapped it into the right corner for Waubonsee's first goal of the season. Midway through the first half the Chiefs tacked on a second goal when Jerme Feruzi drilled a beautiful shot over a leaping Decker and into the upper left corner of the net from 20 yards away. 

In the 30^th minute a penalty by Waubonsee gave Moraine Valley a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Chiefs' keeper Dana Brisbon Jr. then made his third save of the half diving to his right to keep the Cyclones off the board. Six minutes later the Chiefs had a prime opportunity to add a third goal before the half. A foul on the Cyclones in the box gave Waubonsee a penalty kick. However, the Chiefs' Javier Aguirre misfired wide left, and the score remained 2-0 at the break.

Five minutes into the second period Hernan Medina broke free from the pack and out maneuvered Decker, tapping the ball into the right side of the net to make it 3-0. Two minutes later Medina had a nearly identical breakaway situation but was thwarted by a Cyclones' defender just before getting a shot away. Meanwhile, Brisbon and the defensive nucleus of Mufariji Yuha, Matthew Lopez-Martinez, Salvador Aguilera and Ivan Vilchis continued to keep Moraine Valley at bay until the 60^th minute.

A pair of defensive breakdowns allowed the Cyclones to break the shutout. The visitors then quickly made it a contest again when Yamir Gallegos blasted a shot past Brisbon a minute later to suddenly make it 3-2. A foul on the Chiefs in the 70^th minute gave the Cyclones a free kick from 25 yards out and a chance to pull even. However, Brisbon made a fantastic diving deflection of Yael Diaz's ensuing shot to keep Waubonsee in front. 

Both teams had scoring opportunities over the next 15 minutes before the Chiefs tallied the pivotal goal with great teamwork and passing. Anderson registered his second goal of the day in the 81^st minute off an outstanding drop pass from Medina. The sophomore from Geneva smacked the ball into the left corner of the net from five yards out past a diving Decker to give the Chiefs some breathing room with a 4-2 lead. Waubonsee then held over the final minutes to grab the ISCC contest. Moraine Valley had a shot hit the left post and bounce away in the final minute, but that was as close as they would get.

Brisbon recorded eight saves on the way to picking up the win in goal. Regarding shots on goal, Moraine Valley outshot the Chiefs 10-8 for the game, while Waubonsee owned a 9-6 advantage in corner kicks.