Chicago, Ill. — Illinois Tech lost to Benedictine in the NACC quarterfinals 2-0 on Sunday. Illinois Tech outshot the Eagles 20-11 and put nine attempts on goal, including 14 shots in the second half, but was held scoreless. Illinois Tech ends the season 10-6-2 overall and 7-3-2 in conference play. The Eagles are 7-4-7 overall and 5-1-6 in conference play, they advance to the tournament semifinals.
How It Happened
Illinois Tech opened the first half with a corner kick in the opening minute and two shots from
Junior Pineda-Alcala before the Eagles began to generate chances with a corner at 10:36 and three shots over the next eight-plus minutes. The teams traded looks through the middle of the half, with
Theo Balea missing left,
Tomas Rebelatto putting a shot on frame that Abraham Tiburcio saved at 15:11, and
Cal Graham forcing another Tiburcio save at 28:33 during a stretch that also included seven fouls from 25:02 to 34:17. The Eagles broke through at 41:26 when Nick Smith scored off an assist from Nico Gonzalez-Polar for a 1-0 lead, and the Scarlet Hawks pushed back with a
Theo Balea shot saved at 42:02 and a corner kick at 43:39 before the visitors took that margin into halftime.
With the Scarlet Hawks down 1-0, Illinois Tech opened the second half with three corner kicks in the first six minutes and a Rebelatto shot over the frame at 50:13. The Eagles answered with a run of chances, including
David Rodriguez saves on Ari Hernandez at 57:41 and Krystof Cicha at 67:55, while the half also included several fouls and cards through the middle stretch. Illinois Tech pushed again with three corners around the 71st minute and saved shots from Pineda-Alcala, then generated five shots from 79:03 to 81:14 before the Eagles' Krystof Cicha scored at 82:35 to make it 2-0. The Scarlet Hawks continued to press with late attempts from
Brennan Paradiso,
Adrian Cogolludo and Pineda-Alcala, but Abraham Tiburcio made the needed saves and the Eagles finished off a 2-0 result.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
Junior Pineda-Alcala
----------------------
- nine shots
- three shots on goal
David Rodriguez
----------------------
- three saves
- 90:00 in goal
Tomas Rebelatto
----------------------
- three shots
- two shots on goal
Eagles Top Performers
Abraham Tiburcio
----------------------
- 9 saves
- shutout in 90:00
Nick Smith
----------------------
- 1 goal
- 1 game-winning goal
- 1 shot on goal
Krystof Cicha
----------------------
- 1 goal
- 3 shots, 2 shots on goal
Nico Gonzalez-Polar
----------------------
- 1 assist
Game Notes
- Illinois Tech falls to 3-5-1 overall lifetime against the Eagles.
- Team - Achieved at least 20 shots in 2 consecutive matches.
- Team - Totaled 9 shots on goal, exceeding their season average of 6.41.
- Pineda-Alcala - Recorded a career-high 9 shots in a match.
