Hawks take sting of out Yellowjackets
For the second time in a week, Harper College and Rochester Community and Technical College (Minn.) hooked up on the socccer field Friday afternoon in Palatine.
The Hawks were looking to avenge a 2-1 loss in Minnesota last weekend.
With each team having chanches early, nobody could put the ball in the back of the net.
"I didn't think we played as well in the first half as I thought we should have," said Harper coach Dwayne Cruz.
That all changed early in the second half. It only took the Yellowjackets (4-2) 90 seconds of the second half when Amy Enguland scored the game's first goal off of a loose ball in the box.
The Hawks, however, didn't hang their heads. Instead, they went right to work, trying to go get the equalizer. After several furious chances by both teams, Sonya Groth was able to score when the Rochester goalie was unable to come up with a save on the initial Harper shot and was out of position to make a save on a second attempt.
"That is something I have always done." said Groth of the rebound.
Harper (4-1) seemed to seattle down after scoring there first goal.
"I talked to Becca (Verilek)," Cruz said, "and I told her this is when you prove how good you are."
Verilek must have taken her coach's words to heart, because she would come up large.
With the game tied at 1-1 Harper was awarded a free kick after a Yellowjackets foul 35 yards from goal. The initial shot went right at the goalie where the initial save was made. However, she was unable to catch the ball, causing a loose ball in the box.
The ever-opportunistic Verilek was able to bury the loose ball in the back right corner of the Yellowjackets' goal with 2:06 remaining in the game.
"This is good motivation (for the rest of the year)" Verilek said of the win, which came against a team the Hawks are likely to see again in postseason tournament play.
Harper plays back-to-back games next week, Wednesday at home against Joliet and Thursday against host Oakton.
The was also a bit of bad news for the Hawks. Tegan Michel had to leave the game with what Cruz called a possible torn ACL.
On the positive side, the Hawks could be in the new NJCAA top 10, which will be released Monday.