(Lebanon, Ill., Oct. 1) – The No. 4 McKendree University men's soccer team scored three first half goals to defeat the University of Illinois at Springfield, 3-1, Wednesday night at Leemon Field.

The Bearcats, 10-0-1 overall and 3-0 in the American Midwest Conference, will travel to Hannibal, Mo., Saturday for a showdown with No. 8 Hannibal-LaGrange College at 3 p.m.

In the sixth minute, McKendree freshman midfielder Thomas Ward (Frodsham, England) put a pass from sophomore forward Sam James (Southampton. England/Tauntons) (Southampton, England) past the Prairie Star keeper to take a 1-0 lead. Freshman back Mitch Fear (Southampton. England/Tauntons) (Southampton, England) scored a header goal off a corner kick by Ward in the 18^th minute and freshman back Max Vogl (Herzogsreut, Germany/) (Herzogsreut, Germany) scored on a penalty kick in the 22^nd minute to finish the Bearcats scoring. Scott Bringuet of Illinois-Springfield scored off a pass from Jakub Piotrowski in the 89^th minute for the lone Prairie Star goal.

Freshman goalkeeper Joe Sagar (Oldham, England/Hulme) (Oldham, England) won his 10^th game of the season and had five saves in 90 minutes of play.

McKENDREE UNIVERSITY MEN'S SOCCER RESULT
Illinois-Springfield at McKendree
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
 
Team                           1          2          F
Illinois-Springfield         0          1          1

McKENDREE               3          0          3

McKendree Goals –

Thomas Ward, Mitch Fear (Southampton. England/Tauntons), Max Vogl (Herzogsreut, Germany/)

Goalkeepers –
McKENDREE:   Joe Sagar (Oldham, England/Hulme), 90 minutes, 5 saves

Illinois-Springfield:  Chance Walker, 90 minutes, 9 saves

No. 4 McKendree is 10-0-1 overall (3-0 AMC), Illinois-Springfield is 5-4 overall (1-1 AMC)

-McK-