Box Score Madison, WI: 10/19/2021

#4 Harper defeats #1 Madison in post season play.
 
Harper started their playoff run against #1 seed Madison.  After drawing 2-2 in the last regular season game on Saturday 10/16/2021 and Madison was able to clinch the N4C Conference. These turn of events set the Hawks up once again to travel to Madison, but only this time, it was a one and done game. 

The match was full of back and forth game, neither team could breakthrough to score a goal in the first 45 minutes on the pitch.  The first half did end with Madison almost scoring but Nathan Solarski (/John Hersey High School) made a brilliant big shot block which deflected off the post. 

The second half saw the same back and forth action with no goals scored in the total 90 minutes.  Osvaldo Rodriguez (/Dundee-Crown High School ) had one of the better chances, but saw his shot deflect off the post.  Both overtime periods saw Madison with a majority of the possession, Tyler Dawson (/Rolling Meadows High School) had a great breakaway attempt which would go wide with minutes left to play in the second overtime.  Kyle Varela (/Palatine High School) had 6 huge saves to keep the back and forth going. Harper and Madison would end the game scoreless and go into a shootout. 

The first round would see Osvaldo Rodriguez (/Dundee-Crown High School ) and Madison miss. 
Second and third rounds saw both Jakub Szydlowski (/Buffalo Grove High School) and Luke Wolf (/Prairie Ridge High School) score their penalty kicks along with both for Madison.  The fourth round saw Matthew Geisel (/Palatine High School) miss and Madison scoring. 
In the fifth round, Nicolas Pena would score.  With the win on the line, Madison would miss their fifth shot over the crossbar.  Entering extra penalty kicks saw the Hawks, Patrick Hopkins (/Jacobs High school) scoring in the 6th round.  With Madison having to score to extend the shootout, they would once again miss over the crossbar giving the Hawks the win.

"The trip to get here was long... the match was longgg... the bus ride to get home is going to be long... but let me tell you! It feels so good to win this one this way here today! Tom and me are proud of our guys!" Coach Watson stated after the game.    
 
Hawks will meet Illinois Valley in the Region 4 Finals @ IVCC this Saturday.