The Hubs varsity soccer team led Geneseo at halftime during conference action Tuesday evening, but the Rochelle boys were unable to hold off a sharp Maple Leafs attack in the second half, falling by a score of 4-2 to move to 7-2 overall on the season.
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ROCHELLE — The Hubs varsity soccer team led Geneseo at halftime during conference action Tuesday evening, but the Rochelle boys were unable to hold off a sharp Maple Leafs attack in the second half, falling by a score of 4-2 to move to 7-2 overall on the season.
“We played well in the first half but we had some breakdowns in the second half,” head coach Brad Male said. “We didn’t communicate well and I think that allowed them to get behind us a few times. We were trailing, and it’s always hard to come back once the other team goes up… I think we kind of lost our drive in the second half.”
Geneseo struck first to take a 1-0 lead, but junior Jessee Infante cashed in on a penalty kick (22’) to even the match soon after. Infante excelled as a midfielder last season, but the crafty attacker has thrived at the front end of the Rochelle offense this year.
“Jessee can control the ball really well and he has a sense of the goal,” Male said. “He’s been a great asset to our offense, and hopefully we can have a few more players step up with that mindset so we can put a few more goals in.”
The Hubs kept possession in the Geneseo zone for most of the first half, and Rochelle gained a 2-1 advantage over the Maple Leafs on a free kick by junior midfielder Adolfo Flores. Rather than taking a shot on goal, Flores passed the ball to Infante, who set himself up on the right side of the Geneseo screen to give Rochelle the lead.
“Adolfo is another player we really look to,” Male said. “He has a great sense of the game. He reads plays and he makes things happen by moving the ball down the field really well. He’s a tremendous asset to the team defensively as well.”
Rochelle looked to build up its lead in the second half, but instead it was Geneseo who took control of the contest, utilizing quick passes and physical play on defense to throw the Hubs out of their rhythm. The Maple Leafs headed in a goal to tie the game 2-2 before adding two more goals to seal the victory.
“We need to play 80 solid minutes of soccer and that’s what showed yesterday in the second half,” Male said. “We got down on each other a little bit, but I think we can compete with anybody if we put 80 solid minutes of soccer together.”
Rochelle will face Kaneland on the road Thursday evening.
