Hawks handle Chiefs in regional quarterfinals

The NJCAA Region IV men's soccer playoffs got underway for Harper College on Wednesday afternoon in Palatine.

No. 6 Waubonsee came in at 2-14-1 but played No. 3-seeded Harper even through the first half.

But in the second half Harper (10-5-0) broke away to a 4-1 victory.

It was a battle of the goalkeepers early in the first half. With the game scoreless and Harper threatening, Waubonsee goalie Jose Lopez was able to make a save from a flick into the box but he knocked the ball over the endline for a Hawks corner kick.

On the ensuing corner, Lopez again came up large, diving to his left to keep it scoreless. Minutes later, Hawks goalie Andrew Larson (Elk Grove) dived to his right for the first of his 4 saves.

The Hawks where able to strike first blood off a Waubonsee own-goal. After the restart, Jesse Gomez was able to pull the Chiefs even with a shot past Larson to make it a 1-1 game at halftime.

"We did not play as good as we can; we were playing stagnant," said Harper midfielder Mike Marks.

Minutes into the second half Abraham Soto (Wheeling) beat Lopez with a shot to his left for a 2-1 lead.

"After we took the lead we had good spirit," Marks said.

Marks (Conant) would give the Hawks a 3-1 lead when Louis Vargas (Palatine) found him on a pass from the left flank.

"We know where each other is going to be at certain times," Marks said of the run and pass made by Vargas.

Minutes later Soto scored the second of his game-high 2 goals.

Harper next plays at noon Saturday at No. 2 Madision Area Technical College.