Chicago, Ill. - Under their new Head Coach Marlon McKenzie, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks men's soccer team kicked off their 2024 season campaign on Stuart Field on Thursday, September 5th against the Carroll University Pioneers after their original first game of the season was canceled due to weather/darkness. Following a scoreless first half, the non-conference match saw the Hawks (1-0) pull off a comeback, 2-1 victory over the Pioneers (2-1) with goals from Christian Garcia and Adam Lazarowicz.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• With the game underway, the Hawks were quick on the attack, picking up a corner kick at the 2-minute park which led to an Adrian Cogolludo shot. For the Hawks, this would be their only shot of the half. Throughout the first 45, both sides battled offensively and defensively, looking to find a breakthrough. The Pioneers would record 8 shots but never found the back of the net. At the halftime whistle, the game was tied 0-0.  

• All the action would come in the second half of the game with three goals being scored. The Pioneers got on the board first in the 58th minute. After a foul that took place about 30 yards from goal in the Hawks defensive half, the Pioneers earned a free kick. Unfortunately for the Hawks, an own goal would come out of the play, giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. 

• Following the own goal, the Hawks turned up the pressure on the Pioneers, driving towards the goal looking to tie the game up. In the 65th minute, Matthew Watson sent a long, over the head cross into the box to where Christian Garcia was making a run. Attempting to get to the ball, Garcia was fouled inside the 18-yard box, earning the Hawks a penalty kick. Garcia would step up to take the kick, striking it with his left foot towards the lower left corner. Initially, the ball hit off the Pioneers goalkeeper, but would deflect into the lower right corner, putting the Hawks up on the board and tying the game 1-1.  

• With the game tied, the intensity of the game began to pick up as multiple fouls would be recorded from both sides during the remaining minutes of action.  

• In the 78th minute, the Hawks found their game winning goal off the foot of Adam Lazarowicz. Picking up the ball just in the Hawks offensive half, Paul Balea took off running towards the goal with a defender right next to him. With one defender on him and another closing in, Balea slotted the ball to a wide-open Lazarowicz just inside the 18-yard box. On his first touch. Lazarowicz would turn his body, striking the ball with his left foot into the low right hand corner. The ball would hit off the post and go staight into the back of the net, giving the Hawks a 2-1 lead.  

• With just under 12 and a half minutes left, the Hawks held onto their lead, securing their first win of the season.  

SCARLET HAWK STANDOUTS 

• Adam Lazarowicz – 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal 

• Christian Garcia – 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal 

• Paul Balea – 1 assist 

• Ben Mehl – 1 shot 

• Mateo Sanchez – 1 shot 

• Adrian Cogolludo – 1 shot 

• Colin Thomas – 4 saves 

PIONEER STANDOUTS 

• Josh Gonzaga - 4 shots, 1 shot on goal 

• Marti Solanelles – 2 shots, 1 shot on goal 

• Ethan Kratzer – 1 shot, 1 shot on goal 

• Espen Bryant – 1 shot, 1 shot on goal 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Calvin out-shot Illinois Tech 13-5 with 4 shots on goal versus 2 

• The Hawks finished the game with 4 saves 

• Throughout the 90 minutes of action, the Hawks earned 4 corner kicks while the Pioneers had 1 

UP NEXT 

The Hawks will be back in action on Sunday, September 8th when they travel to Franklin, Ind. to take on the Franklin College Grizzlies at 4:00 PM in a non-conference game.