Box Score PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College men's soccer team saw its unbeaten N4C record end on Friday afternoon to Rock Valley College. The Golden Eagles (7-3-2, 4-3-1 N4C) scored the game's only goal in the 41st minute and put the clamps down on defense to secure a 1-0 victory over the Hawks (7-3-2, 7-1-1 N4C).
On a blustery afternoon, Harper had its best scoring chance of the first stanza in the 31st minute as forward Niko Mihalopoulos (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Huntley) ripped a shot on goal. But Golden Eagles goalkeeper Jesus Galvez was up to the task with a nice save.
Rock Valley scored late in the first half as David Rebollar weaved through the defense and ripped a left-footed shot from just inside the box into the right side of the net and past Harper keeper Jacob Goldstein (Buffalo Grove, Ill. /Stevenson ). The Golden Eagles led 1-0 at intermission.
The Golden Eagle defense frustrated the Hawks for much of the afternoon. Harper's had two prime scoring chances in the second half, the first coming in the 64th minute off a free kick from defender Enrique Avellaneda (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows). Avellaneda sent a ball from near midfield into the box, and Mihalopoulos headed it. The ball appeared to be going in the right side of the net, but Galvez made an incredible diving safe to preserve the visitors' 1-0 lead.
Later in the half, Kurt Rettke (Hoffman Estates, Ill. /Fremd) had a prime scoring chance in an effort to tie the game, but Galvez came up big once again. Galvez made four saves on the afternoon while Goldstein (6-2-2) made five stops.
Harper will look to regroup with two nonconference games in the next week. The Hawks will host Aurora University JV on Tuesday, Oct. 6 and then play on the road at Prairie State College on Friday, Oct. 9.
