ELSAH, IL – The Principia Men's Soccer team opened up the 2022 campaign with a hard fought 3-2 win at home over the Illinois College Blueboys on Thursday evening.
Principia struck first in the 11th minute with a magnificent side-volley by freshman
Victor Dos Santos Reis. Illinois College responded in the 26th minute with a goal off a free kick that just snuck past the diving Panther keeper.
After the first half ended tied 1-1, Principia stepped up the work-rate and did a better job controlling the space defensively in the second half. Offensively, the Panthers dictated the pace of play for most of the final 45 minutes.
Victor Dos Santos Reis earned a brace in his first collegiate game as he scored his second goal of the game in the 58th minute. After a Panther was fouled about 10 yards outside the Blueboys' 18, Reis stepped up and took a beautiful curling free kick over the wall and past the outstretched hands of the IC keeper. Fifteen minutes later, freshman
Christian Tresoldi found the back of the net with a bar down strike from the top of the box off a Panther corner, assisted by
Parker Boyce. This would prove to be the game-winning goal as the Blueboys scored with three minutes left.
The Panthers held on to start of the season with a big win. Principia outshot Illinois College 13-8 on the night, with sophomore Torben Rehnert representing the Panthers in the goal with two saves.
Up Next: The Principia men will be back in action on Monday, September 5th, down in St. Louis on the Principia Upper School campus' mesa field. The Panthers with be taking on the Monmouth College Scots at 7:30 pm.
