Godfrey, IL - The #11 Illinois Central College men's soccer team defeated rival #9 Lewis & Clark to win the Region 24 Championship on Saturday afternoon, beating the Trailblazers 3-0 on their home field at Glazebrook Park. Nils Fechner, Nathan Le Roux, and Mario Bedford each tallied goals, propelling the Cougars into the Midwest District semi-final on Thursday, November 6 in Council Bluffs, IA where they will face Indian Hills at 3:30 pm.

"The boys showed great control of the moments," head coach Gabe Carreno said. "We adjusted well to what Lewis & Clark's system proposed and we stayed consistent and efficient, especially in transition. The boys really wanted to win the game and their performance truly showed that." 

The game started in a standard manner with two teams readying each other's systems out. The Cougars had a few opportunities in the flow of play as well as Lewis & Clark onset pieces but had no goals, which led to a scoreless first half.

That changed in the 51st minute when Le Roux passed to Fechner from a shot outside the box for Fechner's goal and a 1-0 advantage. That was all ICC would need but they did not stop there. The second goal came on a hard press from Yahir Pacheco as he pressed the defender and goalkeeper and recovered the ball for Le Roux to tap the ball in at the 73rd minute.

In the 81st minute, Alec Benny pressed and recovered the ball and passed to Bedford for the final score.

The win allowed the Cougars to hold bragging rights in the Lewis & Clark series while avenging an October 7 loss to the LCCC. It was Carreno's second Region 24 title with ICC, having last won the championship in 2022. The Cougars' record now stands at 11-4-4 on the season.

Up next will be #10 Indian Hills, whom the Cougars played to a 1-1 tie on October 21. 

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 3:30 pm
Midwest District Semi-Final
vs. Indian Hills
at Council Bluffs, IA