Chicago, Ill. – With Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play just around the corner, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks men's soccer team took on one last non-conference opponent to prepare for the conference season on Sunday afternoon. At home on Stuart Field, the Hawks faced off against the Lake Forest College Foresters. The Hawks entered the match looking to keep their undefeated streak alive while the Foresters searched for their second win of the season. Under a stellar hat-trick performance from senior Devin Zakeri, the Hawks (4-0-1) kept their undefeated streak alive through their early non-conference games with a 4-1 victory over the Foresters (1-5). 

QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH MARLON MCKENZIE 

"I'm extremely proud of all the hard work the boys have put in these last few weeks. The team is together. They are fighting for each other, and we are ready for the challenges that conference play will bring."  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Devin Zakeri scored his first goal of the game and got the Hawks offense going in the 12th minute of action off a Mateo Sanchez assist. Zakeri's shot went into the lower right corner of the net.  

• In the 26th minute the visiting Foresters scored when Gio Diaz found the back of the net off a Miguel Rodriguez assist. A Forester throw in would go deep into the Hawks 18-yard box, sailing over everyone's head to an open Rodriguez. Rodriguez would get a head on the ball, redirecting it towards the 6-yard box, directly to Diaz. Diaz was able to then redirect the ball himself, straight past Colin Thomas, and into the back of the net, tying the match. 

• Following the first 45 minutes of action, the game was tied at 1-1.  

• Immediately out of halftime, the Hawks took back their lead. Receiving the ball wide open in the Hawks offensive half, Paul Balea took off towards the goal. Three Foresters immediately began to crash towards the ball, but Balea was able to find just enough space to avoid getting the ball stolen from him. Balea then sent a through ball into the 18-yard box to an on-running Sanchez who took a one-touch, left footed shot straight past the Foresters goalkeeper and into the lower right corner.  

• The Hawks built on their lead in the 62nd minute when Zakeri once again found the back of the net, this time off a Christian Garcia assist. After the Hawks won the ball in their defensive half, Garcia received the ball inside the half circle on the Hawks offensive side. With speed, Garcia took off into space down the center of the field. Garcia then placed a perfectly passed ball to his left to Zakeri who took a touch to get inside the 18-yard box before firing off a left-footed shot towards the opposite side of the goal. Zakeri's shot hit off the far post, and redirected into the back of the net.  

• Zakeri then earned his hat-trick in the 69th minute of action when the Hawks earned a penalty kick. Zakeri placed his right-footed shot into the lower right corner, just underneath the diving goalkeeper.  

• At the final whistle, the Hawks defeated the Foresters 4-1.  

DEVIN ZAKERI'S PENALTY KICK GOAL 

SCARLET HAWK STANDOUTS 

• Devin Zakeri – 68 minutes, 3 goals, 5 shots, 5 shots on goal 

• Mateo Sanchez – 59 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 shots, 1 shot on goal 

• Christian Garcia – 64 minutes, 1 assist, 1 shot 

• Paul Balea – 68 minutes, 1 assist 

• Cal Graham – 42 minutes, 1 shot 

• Colin Thomas – 76:10 minutes in net, 2 saves 

• Adam Falcigno – 13:50 minutes in net, 1 save 

FORESTERS' STANDOUTS 

• Gio Diaz – 89 minutes, 1 goal, 2 shots, 2 shots on goal 

• Miguel Rodriguez – 74 minutes, 1 assist, 1 shot 

• Peter Cirbo – 76 minutes, 5 shots 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Although Lake Forest out shot Illinois Tech 17-9, the Hawks placed 6 of their shots on goal while the Foresters only placed 5 

• The match saw 10 corner kicks, with 8 going in favor of the Foresters 

• The Hawks finished with 4 saves while the Foresters had 2 

UP NEXT 

This upcoming week marks the beginning of NACC play for the Hawks. Conference action begin on Wednesday, September 18th when the Hawks welcome the Edgewood College Eagles to Stuart Field for a 7:00 PM kick-off. 

Edgewood will be entering the contest with a 4-1-1 overall record. In the United Soccer Coaches Region VIII -Poll 1 – released on September 10th, the Eagles were ranked 8th.