Box Score LaSalle-Peru: 10/23/2021 
 
After upsetting the #1 seed Madison Wolfpack, the Hawks traveled to #3 Illinois Valley Community College who themselves had upset the #2 Rock Valley Golden Eagles. IVCC boasts the number 1 scorer in the nation and had beaten the Hawks twice this season 5-2 and 2-0. IVCC got on the board early, scoring in the 9th minute on a breakaway.  Harper was able to tie the game 5 minutes later off of a free kick when Jakub Szydlowski (/Buffalo Grove High School) placed a perfect ball into the box that Vincent Diadone-Pavlovich was able to head past the goalkeeper.  IVCC would score in the 24th minute when an open player in the center of the box was able to place the ball by Kyle Varela (/Palatine High School).  The Hawks would end the half down 2-1.  
 
"We had to make some adjustments at halftime because of how bad the field was." (Coach Watson) "The field was hard and bumpy which does not lend well to passing the ball around and holding possession so we looked to play more direct."  
 
The second half would be all Harper as the Hawks were able to gain momentum and create more chances and essentially shut down IVCC, along with the nation's leading scorer.  In the 62nd minute, IVCC would foul Adrian Panocha (/James B Conant High School) in the box and earn the penalty kick for Harper.  Aaron Bustamante (/Palatine High School) would calmly finish the penalty kick to tie the game at 2-2.  Just over a minute later, Harper would earn a corner kick that was taken by Adrian Panocha (/James B Conant High School) which found the head of Jonathan Rivas (/Elk Grove High School ), the strike beat the goalkeeper to take the lead.  In the 82nd minute, a great pass by Luke Wolf (/Prairie Ridge High School) found Jonathan Rivas (/Elk Grove High School ) place the ball into the empty net for his second goal of the game and would eventually be the final score at 4-2.  
 
"It was great to beat Illinois Valley today after losing to them twice in the regular season." Coach Watson express "Both losses were pretty upsetting because we felt like we struggled to get into the game." The Hawks definitely changed things up and after playing so well the last week and a half, have had a lot of confidence that we could win.  "I felt we dominated the second half and really shut them down after they had won the first half.  Very happy with how we played and how we have now won back to back Region 4 titles." Coach Watson said. 
 
Hawks will now host the Midwest District Championships where the winner will go to the National Tournament. The Hawks first match is Friday 10/29/2021 at 12:00pm.