(Sugar Grove, IL) – A pivotal Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) men's soccer match between Waubonsee Community College and Prairie State College came down to the final minutes. The Chiefs (9-2, 4-1) and the Pioneers (11-2, 5-1) were both striving to keep pace with sixth ranked and first place Morton College (9-0-1, 5-0). In the end the 14^th ranked Pioneers' size and veteran experience prevailed in a closely contested 2-1 victory over the Chiefs.

Both teams seemed to be testing each other out in the early going as they each methodically maneuvered the ball up and down the field. Neither team had very promising scoring opportunities during the opening twenty minutes of play. The Pioneers did advance the ball within striking distance a couple of times, but the Chiefs' defense turned them away. Waubonsee, ranked 20^th nationally before falling out of the latest NJCAA Division II poll, came into the match ranked 21^st defensively with a 1.29 goals-against-average (GAA). The Pioneers were right behind them in 22^nd place with a 1.33 GAA. For the most part the Chiefs were able to contain Prairie State's potent offense, which entered the match sixth nationally with 48 goals scored by 15 different players in a dozen matches.

In the 28^th minute Prairie State could not capitalize on a pair of corner kicks. Chiefs' keeper Dana Brisbon Jr. then snagged a Pioneers' shot on goal in the 38^th minute to maintain the scoreless battle. Two minutes later Waubonsee's Benedicte Ndjibu banged heads with the Pioneers' Mael Graf as they both jumped for the ball. One of the Chiefs' key defensive players, Ndjibu had to come out of the match for the remainder of the first half. Prairie State was then able to take advantage of that situation as they got the ball past the Chiefs' defense and near the box in the final seconds of the half. A Chiefs' foul gave Prairie State a free kick from 20-yards out with just 0:10 left in the half. The Pioneers' Leo Dutra, one of Prairie State's 11 International players on their roster, took full advantage of the opportunity. The native of Chapeco, Brazil, ripped a left-footed shot that curled into the upper right corner and out of the reach of Brisbon for his seventh goal of the fall.

Meanwhile, Prairie State's 6'4" keeper Igor Mrvalgevic, a native of Podgorica, Montenegro, deftly handled anything the Chiefs kicked his way as the Pioneers carried a 1-0 lead into the intermission. However, Mrvalgevic aggravated a previous injury and gave way in net to Fernando Cervantez for the second half. The Chiefs quickly challenged him as Daniel Avila blasted a shot on goal from 12 yards out only four minutes into the second period. But a leaping Cervantez deflected the ball up and over the cross to preserve the Pioneers' slim lead. In the 52^nd and 54^th minutes Brisbon made sensational diving stops to prevent Prairie State from adding to their lead. Waubonsee had a chance to knot the score in the 63^rd minute when Rosario Gutierrez smacked a 30-yard shot from the right wing. But the freshman's shot went just over the upper left corner of the net. The Chiefs were able to tie the match two minutes later when Avila corralled a deflected pass on the left side. The Oswego High School product quickly jumped and drilled a spectacular bicycle kick from 8 yards out past Cervantez for his fifth goal of the season to tie the game in the 65^th minute.

The match then appeared to take a turn in Waubonsee's favor when the Pioneers' Magliore Makila received a second yellow card, resulting in his ejection and forcing the visitors to play the final twenty minutes a player down. Despite the handicap Prairie State was able to keep the pressure on Waubonsee's defense as Brisbon made a pair of big saves over the next three minutes of play. The Chiefs had two opportunities to take the lead down the stretch, but both shots went wide of the goal. Two minutes later a pass deflected off of a Chiefs' defender directly to the Pioneers' leading scorer Angel Arismendiz. The sophomore knew what to do with it, quickly booting a shot from the left side into the right corner of the net from 10 yards out. His 12^th goal of the season put Prairie State ahead 2-1 in the 84^th minute. Waubonsee's final chance to tie the game came with a minute to go in regulation. However, the shot from 15 yards away on the left wing sailed well over the crossbar.

Waubonsee is in action again this coming Thursday, October 6 when they travel to Elgin to square off against the Judson University Junior Varsity at 2:00 p.m. Coach Brett Suhayda's Chiefs are set to host Illinois Valley Community College on Saturday, October 8 in their next home match. Kickoff between the Chiefs and Eagles is scheduled for noon. Waubonsee will host Morton College next Tuesday, October 11 at 4:00 p.m. in an ISCC showdown. A Waubonsee victory will make it a three-way tie for the conference regular season title between the Chiefs, Pioneers and Panthers.