ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The Rockford University men's soccer team fell in a high-scoring affair to the visiting Marian University Sabres, 4-2, on Saturday morning.
Jose Lane Mendoza and
Rejhan Jakupi both scored goals in the match.
Only 8:38 came off the clock before the Regents scored their first goal. Mendoza found the back of the net in the 9th minute off a ricochet to give RU a one goal lead.
The attack continued, with another goal coming across in the 12th minute. This time it was Jakupi, converting off of a pair of assists from
Nathan Dorado and
Oziel Morales.
The Sabres had a golden opportunity over halfway through the first period. Zac Pfister torpedoed a penalty kick toward the back right of the goal but was rejected by a leaping
Wesley Pritzlaff. Pritzlaff finished the match with 11 saves.
Rockford led 2-0 at the half. After staving off an initial Marian push the Regents finally relinquished their first goal in the 58th minute. Fernando Mota converted on another penalty try.
The Sabres were a reinvigorated team in the second half. They caught fire, scoring three more goals in the span of 17 minutes to take a 4-2 lead.
RU wasn't able to counter. The were outshot 23-13 and Marian held a 16-2 in shots on goal.
The Regents will return to action on Wednesday, Sep. 30, when they head to De Pere for a night match against St. Norbert at 7 p.m.
