V-Hawks defeat Jaguars, Advance to CCAC Semifinals

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The V-Hawks entered the field on Wednesday afternoon to face off against the Jaguars in the CCAC Quarterfinal match. Earlier in the year, the V-Hawks had fallen to the Jaguars in a 5-3 deafening loss. The V-Hawks earned their victory, winning 4-2 after 90 minutes of play. The V-Hawks improve to 11-5-2 on the season, and the Jaguars fall to 5-13-1 to finish their season. 

The V-Hawks were led offensively by Joaquin Eichhorn. He scored three goals to lead to his first hat trick this year and to vault the V-Hawks into the second round of the conference tournament. The V-Hawks were in control for the entire match, taking 20 shots to the Jaguars' eight and taking six corner kicks as opposed to the Jaguars' two. Defensively, the Jaguars did pick up an impressive nine saves, while the V-Hawks had none. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Jaguars opened the game quickly with a goal in the first minute by Pedro Mendez. The V-Hawks fought to get back, and they took two shots before earning the first tying goal of the game at 15 minutes. The goal was scored by Ted Holstein, assisted by Sebastian Acosta. Governors State responded again quickly, scoring just three minutes later to take the 2-1 lead. The two teams took several shots throughout the first half. Andrii Ketsuk came close with a shot hitting the crossbar, but eventually the V-Hawks went into halftime down 2-1. 

In the second half, the teams were playing with passion. The V-Hawks scored early in the second half, but it was called back due to a foul. The game-tying goal came from Joaquin Eichhorn at 67 minutes when he put it in from the deep corner. Six minutes later, the V-Hawks earned a penalty kick, taken by Joaquin Eichhorn, to score again and to take the 3-2 lead. At 81 minutes, the V-Hawks scored a final time, again on a penalty shot from Joaquin Eichhorn. The V-Hawks pushed to the end and held off the Jaguars to advance to the semifinals. 

UP NEXT

The V-Hawks will face the Saint Xavier Cougars in the CCAC Semifinals here in La Crosse on Saturday, November 8th. Kickoff is at 1pm.