Harper men's soccer advances in postseason play

For the second time in a week the Harper College men's soccer team met Madison College in Palatine Tuesday, this time with a trip to the NJCAA Division III Region IV tournament championship game Saturday on the line.

As they did last week, the host Hawks took the win, 3-1.

It didn't take second-seeded Harper long to take to first lead of the game. After being awarded the ball on the kickoff, Rolling Meadows alum Pedro Botello was able to find the back of the net, the second time this season Harper was able to score against the Wolfpack in the game's first 60 seconds.

The Hawks would replicate the feat on their second possession of the game, thanks to Isaiah Jaime (Christian Liberty).

"We started out great," first-year Harper coach Andre Watson said.

Before some of the fans were able to settle in the Wolfpack cut the deficit to 2-1 on a set piece into the wind. Watson was not surprised by Madison's ability to come back.

"They are an aggressive team," he said.

The goal of the game came from Wheeling graduate Jose Garcia-Lopez, whose second half shot from distance beat the Madison goalie in the upper right corner. "We had space to counter attack," Watson said of his team's final goal.

The Hawks dominated the first 35 minutes of the second half.

"We did a great job trying to possess as much as possible," Watson said of the sequence.

The visitors found a little momentum in the game's final 15 minutes.

"They tried to spread us out," Watson said of the Madison attack. "We did a good job of absorbing their pressure."

If Garcia-Lopez had the goal of the game, the play of the game was made by Harper goalie Kevin Sieb, whose penalty kick save helped preserve the win. As any good goalie in the situation does, Sieb was able to read his opponent.

"I saw him look to (my right)," Sieb said. "I thought that was a hint where he was going to (shoot)."

Harper will either play No. 8 ranked Triton College, or Elgin Community College Saturday.