ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's soccer team improved to 2-0 late Friday afternoon with a gutsy 3-2 overtime comeback win over Finlandia University. The RU men's soccer program continues to impress this year as it is the first time since the Regents joined the NACC back in 2006 that Rockford has won its first two matches to start a season, and the first time since 2011 that it has won back-to-back matches. 

It was a frustrating start to the afternoon for Rockford as they entered halftime trailing 1-0 despite holding an 8-7 advantage in shots including a 4-3 edge in shots on goal. Things began to look even worse early in the second half when Finlandia scored again less than 10 minutes in to jump out to a 2-0 lead. 

With Rockford still trailing 2-0 and less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation things began to look bleak for the Regents. However, Rockford never surrendered and continued to fight and claw its way back into the match. Sophomore Anders-James Wermuth (Spring Green, Wis.) pulled his team back to within a single goal in the 82nd minute when his penalty kick found the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game. With the score unchanged and less than a minute remaining, Rockford continued to put pressure on the Lions in hopes of tying the match and forcing overtime. The Regents pressure paid off as Wermuth came through with a clutch goal off an assist from Todd Alberts (Davenport, Iowa) to tie the match with only 33 seconds remaining and send it into overtime.

After a scoreless nine minutes to begin overtime, it appeared as though Regents were headed for a second overtime period. However, in the final minute it was junior Jonathan Hernandez (Chicago, Ill.) who delivered the game-winning goal off an assist from Alberts to cap off an amazing 3-2 comeback win.

The undefeated Rockford University men's soccer team returns to field on Monday, September 5 for its home opener against Bethany Lutheran College. The match has a scheduled start time of 3:00 PM at Sam Greeley Field.