East Peoria, Ill. - On a chilly fall afternoon at the CougarPlex, coach Gabe Carreno's ICC men's soccer team (6-7-0) was getting ready to take on the Lincoln Trail Statesmen (7-3-2). In the grand scheme of series history, it's perhaps not a surprise that Sunday's meeting between the two Region 24 opponents would wind up just the same. How the goals came, however, was not exactly the most 'normal', per se. After all three combined goals were scored in the first 45 minutes, it was a defensive battle in the last 45, with ICC holding on for a 2-1 victory, the Cougars' first Region 24 win in 2023. 

FIRST HALF RECAP
The visiting Statesmen controlled possession for a majority of the first half. Tomas Fontes was critical to the eventual victory. Lincoln Trail had three corner kicks within a two-minute span (21:13-19:40) that Fontes and the Cougars' defense held up and cleared out. 

The shots kept coming from Lincoln Trail, including a powerful boot that went wide left at 7:31. 

Then, fortune finally favored ICC. Despite the aforementioned possession battle, the Cougars were able to draw a penalty kick at the 6:46 mark. Alas, Statesmen keeper Gonzalo Onrubia would come up with the save, stretching out to his left, and keeping the game at 1-0 in favor of the visitors. 

However, that lead would not last too much longer. Another foul after the clearance of the penalty kick gave ICC yet another opportunity. Off the foot of Yahir Meza, they did. Meza netted the first PK at 6:34 for a 1-1 tie. 

Roughly three minutes later (3:41 to be exact), Meza would have another PK opportunity, and he scored again, giving the Cougars what would ultimately be their scoring for the day. 

The 2-1 lead was maintained into halftime when Fontes made another key save at the 2:00 mark. 

SECOND HALF RECAP
Shots were already aplenty for the Statesmen, Fontes saves or not, so there would certainly be no let-up from the Lincoln Trail attack. The Statesmen would have numerous opportunities near goal, but just couldn't quite translate it to the scoreboard, with again, Fontes and the Cougars' defense holding their line. 

At 3:18, Fontes would leap to his left to make a save. At 25:09, another stretch save, this time to his right. That being said, perhaps his best save of the afternoon came when he lept in the air, taking a scorpion-esque shape, and bring the ball in to maintain that one-goal advantage. 

The next-closest opportunity for Lincoln Trail, that would eventually be their last, saw Fontes make another save off a deflection to his right with 11:15 remaining. 

At 0:00 on the clock, jubilation on the sideline, as the Cougars were thrilled to celebrate not just their first win within the Region 24 schedule, but a D1 Top 20 win, and such a win happening on their home pitch. 

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
vs. Truman College Falcons (5-1-2)
Tuesday, October 10th - 4:00 PM
@ CougarPlex - East Peoria, Ill.