Soccer slump stopped

Last year’s soccer season was a major heartache. The team ended the winless season 0-15. But Friday, Aug. 31, was a sign of a turning point for the Loggers with an early win in the game against Scott Community College from Davenport, Iowa.

Dimitrije Antonijevic, a sophomore midfielder for the Loggers, said he thinks that the team is not only different but much better than last year’s team.

“We all have the same mindset and the same goal,” Antonijevic said. “It’s like a small family. Coach always backs us up and makes sure that we fulfill our goals not only on the field but in the classroom as well.”.

The second game of the season against the Scott Community College Eagles appeared as if the Loggers weren’t going to see a goal happen until late in the game.

However, towards the end of the first half, Connor Novy, a freshman forward, took advantage of some sloppy defense by the Eagles and notched the first goal of the afternoon for the Loggers, putting them up 1-0.

Jose Torres, freshman forward, added a key goal to put the Loggers up 2-0 at 12 minutes into the second half.

A late goal by Torres helped ice the game and give Lincoln Land its first win on the young season and delivered to the Eagles its first loss of the season.

“Everyone has stepped up a lot,” Antonijevic said of this year’s team. “There has been a lot more ambition, and a lot more determination on the soccer field.” 

Antonijevic went all-conference last year.

“It was nice to go all conference. However I would have much rather seen success on the field with (my) teammates,” he said.

Antonijevic said he thinks this year’s team will have a lot more success.

The Loggers are currently 1-3 for the season after the conference opening game against Heartland Community College from Normal, in which the team lost by two points. The score was 3-5.

Dylan Surprenant can be reached at [email protected].