GREENVILLE, Ill. - The men's soccer team returned to Francis Field for a non-conference match on Tuesday night against Illinois College. Greenville scored two minutes into the match and then in the final 30 seconds prior to halftime in taking a 2-1 win.
Early in the first half, Othon Chavez flicked a ball off his heal, over the defense, and he found an onrushing Pablo Valverde who blasted it into the side of the net to give Greenville a 1-0 lead.
Just four and a half minutes later, Illinois College added the equalizer, and the game remained knotted at 1-all until late in the second half.
Just before halftime, Luis Partida took a shot that was stopped by the IC goalkeeper, but Jared McPeek was ready to pounce on the rebound and give Greenville the 2-1 lead.
The momentum of the match was impacted greatly in Greenville's favor when Illinois College received a red card in the 39th minute. McPeek stole the ball from an IC defender who fouled McPeek intentionally on the breakaway for the automatic red.
Overall, Greenville ended with a 21-12 shot advantage and led 11-4 in the second half when they were up a man.
Partida finished with a match-high five shots for GU while McPeek, Valverde, and Benn Jane each had three.
Pedro Vebber protected the net for Greenville and collected five saves.
The Panthers (2-1) head to Indiana for a match against Anderson on Friday night.