ROCKFORD, Ill. - Saturday marked the beginning of Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play for the Rockford University men's soccer team as the Regents welcomed the Lakeland College Muskies to Sam Greeley Field. The Regents and Muskies have had their share of close matches over the past two seasons. In 2011 the Muskies knocked off the Regents 3-2 in overtime and in 2012 the two schools tied 1-1. Rockford hoped that this season it would be its turn to win a close match.

The match began as though it was going to be another close battle as neither team was able to find the back of the net for the first 30 minutes of the match. However it was the Muskies who would seize control scoring three goals in a nine-minute span to take a 3-0 lead into halftime. The second half was a truly a defensive battle as the Regents shut out the Muskies in the final 45 minutes. However, the Regents were unable to score as well and fell 3-0 to Lakeland.

Defensively the Regents really played well for the vast majority of the afternoon. Junior Tyler Burg (Cherry Valley, Ill./Jefferson) had a solid afternoon on the defensive end. Burg denied numerous Muskies a path to the goal along with making multiple slide tackles halting the Muskie charge. Goalie Felipe Juarez (Silver Springs, Md./Paint Branch) had his best outing of the season. Juarez took over in the second half and played a perfect final 45 minutes. The sophomore had three saves and pitched a second half shutout.

The men's soccer team returns to action on September 25th when the Regents play on the road at MSOE. The match is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.