ROCKFORD, Ill. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College earned its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Rockford on Saturday at Sam Greeley Field. The Warriors (2-7-3, 1-2-2 NACC) received a pair of goals from freshman
Jesus Ramirez Pabon (Milwaukee, Wis.) and a second-half strike from sophomore
Rolando Colin (Waukegan, Ill.) to hold off the Regents (2-8-1, 1-4-0 NACC).
Ramirez Pabon opened the scoring in the 16th minute with his first goal of the season to give WLC an early lead. RU answered in the 43rd minute when Aldair Garcia equalized to send the match to halftime tied 1-1.
Wisconsin Lutheran regained control in the second half when Colin converted in the 62nd minute, assisted by sophomore
Connor Renaud (Des Moines, Iowa) and Ramirez Pabon. Just three minutes later, Ramirez Pabon struck again with his second tally of the match, pushing the Warriors ahead 3-1. Rockford pulled one back in the 82nd minute on Lane Mendoza's goal from Devon Hinko, but WLC's defense held firm over the closing minutes to secure the win.
Wisconsin Lutheran outshot the Regents 19-8, including an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal. Both teams finished with four corner kicks. Ramirez Pabon led all players with five shots, while junior
Andrew King (East Moline, Ill.) added four for the Warriors. Mendoza and Bennett Abler paced RU with two attempts. Rockford goalkeeper Wesley Pritzlaff made eight saves, while WLC's
Owen Gault (Moline, Ill.) earned the win with one stop.
Wisconsin Lutheran returns home on Wednesday to host MSOE (7-3-2, 4-1-1 NACC) at 7 p.m. at Warriors Soccer Field. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
