Men's Soccer earns top seed in playoffs with win at No. 7 Sandburg

In what has been a world-wind week for the Triton College men's soccer team, they found a way. The Trojans played three games in four days, all with playoff implications.

In reality, it felt like four games in five days as on Oct. 24, Triton traveled to Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, but the game never started due to lightening and eventually darkness. That meant the team rode over six hours on a bus without playing.

However, with the magnitude of the game on playoff seeding, the Trojans ranked No. 19 in the latest NJCAA Division II poll had to return to Sandburg Oct. 28 after picking up wins over Kishwaukee (4-3 in OT) Oct. 25 and College of DuPage (10-3) Oct. 27.

Somehow, Triton persevered to knock off the No. 7 rated Chargers in a convincing 4-1 result to secure the top seed in the upcoming Region 4 tournament. The Trojans will host No. 4 seed Moraine Valley Community College Oct. 30 at Noon in River Grove.

The teams have not faced each other during the regular season.

Still the win over Sandburg was special under the circumstances and may be one of the biggest regular season moments during the 10-years Piotr Sliwa has led the men's soccer program.

"I am so proud of these guys." Sliwa said. "To play three games in four days and beat the No. 7 team in the nation on the road is quite an accomplishment. Then also clinch the top seed in the playoffs. For what our team has been though, they deserve it. We will not have much rest, but we'll be ready to compete against Moraine Valley."

Konrad Madej got the Trojans (13-2) on the board late in first half off an assist from All-American candidate Patryk Szatko.

The scored remained 1-0 Triton until the Trojans scored three consecutive goals beginning with Maciej Rzadkosz in the 60^th minute off another assist from Szatko.

Madej would strike again in the 72^nd minute from Marcin Kieta to make it 3-0 Triton.

Then Dino Maljevic's goal from Christian Martinez put the game out of reach in the 82^nd minute. The Chargers (15-3) scored their only goal with a minute remaining.

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