Men’s soccer has officially started at Illinois Valley Community College. After two pre-season scrimmages and their first home game, the Eagles stand with a record of 1-2.

After meetings were conducted last year to determine if there was interest in the sport, Soccer became a new sport at IVCC.

“Adding men’s and women’s soccer has been well received by the community and our coaches Tim Cottingim (men) and Ed Young (women) are off to a great start,” IVCC president Jerry Corcoran
said at the August board meeting, adding, “The city of LaSalle is proud that home games will be played at beautiful LaSalle Rotary Club Park.”

Games kicked off on the road. The first scrimmage was a 2-0 defeat to Waubonsee Community College, followed by a 3-2 win against Kankakee Community College.

Mendota graduate Daniel Hernandez scored the opening goal vs. Kankakee while former Little Giants duo Adrian Perez and Carlos Acosta scored the second and third to seal the Eagles’ first victory.

Shortly after pre-season ended, IVCC hosted its first home soccer match against Madison College.. The Eagles’ first regular-season game ended in an 8-3 defeat to the Wolfpack. Trailing 2-0 in the first half, Acosta cut the lead on a direct kick from a set piece.
As the half continued, IVCC began to fall behind, despite a goal from 2014 News -Tribune Player of the Year Luis Valdez. Valdez completed his brace with a goal in the second half.

Although the Eagles started off the season with a loss, Princeton graduate Kevin Sanchez remains optimistic.

“We didn’t play to our full potential. Last week at Kankakee shows we can play better as a team.”

Sanchez later added, “We just need to keep working. We need to come together and work hard.”

With a long season ahead and a tough schedule to play, Coach Tim Cottinghim still thinks this team can do well. “I think we can pick up some wins along the way and that’s great,” he said, “ I think they’re
frustrated, but from where we are standing now, we just need to get better.”

The Eagles next home game will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 vs. Elgin in La Salle’s Rotary Park. Another home contest is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 16 vs. Milwaukee.