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CJ, Zack, and Dane from men's soccer celebrating
4
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU (6-7-1, 5-2-0)
2
Millikin MILLIKIN (1-12-2, 1-5-1)
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
(6-7-1, 5-2-0)
4
Final
2
Millikin MILLIKIN
(1-12-2, 1-5-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1 3 4
Millikin MILLIKIN 2 0 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer Wins Fourth Straight with 4-2 Win at Millikin

Titans back home for last regular season game Oct. 30

DECATUR, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team bounced back from a 1-0 deficit to a 4-2 victory over Millikin University Wednesday, Oct. 27. The Titans moved to 5-2 in the conference and 6-7-1 overall as Millikin dropped to 1-4-1 in the conference and 1-12-1 overall.

The Titans started freshman goalkeeper and College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week Ethan Fineman (Highland Park, Ill.-Highland Park) where he picked up one save during the first 45. As a unit the Green and White outshot the Big Blue 13-6 with a closer on goal margin of 4-3 during the first half. 

Around the 20-minute mark Millikin scored the first goal of the night off a free kick attempt to give the Big Blue a 1-0 advantage. Similarly, senior Zack Kokes (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville Central) grabbed the equalizer goal off a free kick attempt. The senior stepped up to the ball about 25 yards out and tied the match, one all. 

Tied at one and back at the kickoff spot, the Titans were caught off guard as the Big Blue quickly scored just four seconds later to take back the lead 2-1. IWU saw some late chances but it wasn't enough to tie it back up, ending the first 45 down 2-1. 

In the Titans attacking half,  junior Dane Hoare (Chicago, Ill.-Von Steuben) took back-to-back corners around the 48-minute mark. On the second attempt Hoare soared a ball right into the Big Blue's six-yard box where Kokes met it in the air, to net the Titans second goal of the night. Kokes tied the game 2-2 and now leads the Green and White in goals with eight this season, a career-high. Kokes has now scored at least two goals in a single game on three different occasions this campaign.  

Freshman center back Justin Hart (Morton, Ill.-Morton) scored the game-winning goal at the 74:03 minute mark. Another set piece saw sophomore CJ Rodriguez (Santa Barbara, Calif.-Dos Pueblos) placed the ball into the box where Hart got on the back end of it to take the Titans first lead 3-2. 

Rodriguez was not done yet as he netted the final goal of the night from an assist by freshman Mush Bakirdan (Morton, Ill.-Morton) who picked up his first point in the Green and White uniform. With 10 minutes remaining in the match the Green and White were up 4-2. Millikin saw some late chances but could not make up the deficit as the Titans left Decatur, Ill. with a 4-2 win over the Big Blue.

IWU is back Saturday, Oct. 30 at Neis Field for senior day. The Titans will face Carthage College for a 3:30 p.m. start.  
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