Harper looks forward to regional final test

Heading into NJCAA Region IV tournament final play at Harper College, the Hawks men's soccer team has collected points in 8 of its last 10 games, including two postseason wins, dating back to Sept. 19.

"We are one of those teams who just gets it done," first-year coach Dan Klaus said of the streak. "We have consistently dealt with what the opponent has dealt."

The team Harper started the nice streak against just happens to be the same one now standing in the Hawks way. Rock Valley College visits Palatine at 2 p.m. Saturday as both teams aim to extend their seasons.

Rock Valley enters the finals with a 5-10-2 record. The Golden Eagles limped into regional action, losers of three of their last four games since Oct. 1. But the first-year program seems to have found some magic.

In a scheduling oddity, the teams only played once this season, and it ended in a scoreless tie.

"Both teams created some chances," Klaus said. "That tells you how tight our regular season was."

Klaus expects RVC to come out in a 4-4-2 formation, but he also expects to see - and make -some adjustments. Harper will be facing a Rock Valley back line anchored by sophomore Edwin Munoz.

Set pieces and dead-ball situations could go a long way in deciding a winner. Of the 8 goals scored by Harper in regional play, 2 have been by penalty kicks.

Alex Freeman is Harper's leading scorer; he's contributed both as a center defender and center forward.

"We are proud of his maturation," Klaus said. "He's hard-nosed."

Hersey grad Irvin Velazquez has been steady in goal, and Klaus say he's been "smart coming off his line.

"He's there when we need him. He's been pretty good not giving up rebounds."