Chicago, Ill. – On their home turf, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks men's soccer team took on the Lakeland University Muskies in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) match on Saturday, October 12th. With the game marking the second half of the conference schedule, the Hawks looked to secure a conference victory to improve their record with hopes to make it into the post-season tournament later this season. Following the 18th minute mark, the Hawks were able to find their offensive stride, finding the back of the net six times from six different goal scorers. At the final whistle, the Hawks (6-4-2, 3-4) recorded a 6-0 victory over the Muskies (3-10, 2-6). 

Tomas Rebelatto, Jake Skiba, Athanasis Karagiannis, and Logan Garcia all recorded their first goal of the season. Devin Zakeri has 9 goals this season thus far.   

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Passing the ball around in their defensive half, Matthew Watson sent the ball forward to Dominik Kroupa. With a defender applying immediate pressure, Kroupa was able to send a high cross forward towards Tomas Rebelatto. Although it seemed as if the Muskie defender was going to gain control, the ball skipped past him into space. Rebelatto was able to react first, using his speed to gain control of the ball and cut inwards towards the goal. From a tight angel, Rebelatto was able to slot a right-footed shot towards the inside post of the goal. His shot would deflect off the Muskies goalkeepers' foot and into the back of the net for the game's first goal in the 18th minute.  

• Less than two minutes later, the Hawks scored their second of the game. When it seemed as if the Muskies were stealing the ball from the Hawks, Devin Zakeri came in and took possession of the ball for himself. Dribbling and cutting in towards goal, Zakeri would get nudged by a Muskie defender, helping propel him closer towards goal inside the 18-yard box. With the Muskie goalkeeper coming out, Zakeri slid the ball right past him into the goal, giving the Hawks a 2-0 lead.  

• The Hawks went into halftime leading the Muskies 2-0.  

• In the 55th minute, Mateo Sanchez scored off a Rebelatto assist. Earning a free kick in their defensive half, the Hawks built the ball up the field. From half-field, Adrian Cogolludo sent an over-the-top pass to Rebelatto on the far sideline. Controlling the ball, Rebelatto faced towards his defender and took him on 1v1, beating him on the inside while driving to the inside of the 18-yard box. Rebelatto would go on to lay the ball slightly back to an open Sanchez. Following a set-up touch, Sanchez fired a left-footed shot to inside, splitting the goalkeeper and post to put the Hawks ahead 3-0. 

• Subbing into the match just eight minutes prior, Jake Skiba scored in the 79th minute off a Cal Graham assist. Splitting the Muskies defense, Paul Balea played the ball into the box, allowing Graham to run onto in. With his first touch, Graham squared a pass across the top of the 6-yard box into the path of J. Skiba's run. Beating the Muskie defender and goalkeeper to the ball, J. Skiba was able to get just enough power to send the ball into the back of the net.  

• Three minutes later, J. Skiba assisted the Hawks fourth goal when Athanasis Karagiannis scored from deep outside the 18-yard box. Receiving the ball in-between the sideline and the 18-yard box, J. Skiba took his defender on 1v1 while cutting inside towards goal. With multiple Muskie defenders crashing in on him, Skiba laid off a pass to a wide open Karagiannis. Taking one touch to set himself up, Karagiannis ripped off a left-footed shot towards goal, placing his shot to the inside near post.  

• Then, five minutes later in the 87th minute, the final goal of the game came from the foot of Logan Garcia. Following up on an initial Graham shot that was saved by the Muskie goalkeeper, L. Garcia raced towards the free ball. Getting to the ball first, L. Garcia placed a first touch, right-footed shot into the back of the net, sealing the Hawks' 6-0 victory.  

SCARLET HAWK STANDOUTS 

• Devin Zakeri – 54 minutes, 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal 

• Mateo Sanchez – 40 minutes, 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 shot on goal 

• Tomas Rebelatto – 49 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots, 2 shots on goal 

• Jake Skiba – 14 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal 

• Logan Garcia – 37 minutes, 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal 

• Athanasis Karagiannis – 35 minutes, 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal 

• Dominik Kroupa – 66 minutes, 1 assist  

• Cal Graham – 50 minutes, 1 assist, 3 shots, 2 shots on goal 

• Adam Falcigno – 72 minutes, combined shutout, 1 save 

• David Rodriguez – 18 minutes, combined shutout 

MUSKIE STANDOUTS 

• Gavin Pinchart – 77 minutes, 2 shots 

• Aldo Rangel – 72 minutes, 2 shots  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Illinois Tech out shot Lakeland 17-6 with 11 shots on goal versus 1 

• 6-of-7 corner kicks went in favor of the Hawks 

• The Muskies recorded 5 saves while the Hawks had 1 

• 5-of-the-6 Hawks goals came inside the 18-yard box 

TOMAS REBELATTO'S GOAL 

JAKE SKIBA'S GOAL 

UP NEXT 

The Hawks return to the pitch on Wednesday, October 16th when they travel over to Aurora, Ill. to take on the Aurora University Spartans. The NACC match will kick-off at 7:00 PM.