University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) men's soccer player Javier Milla netted the game-winning as the Prairie Stars downed McKendree in a 1-0 victory during Friday's Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) matchup at Kiwanis Stadium.
 
"That was a tough battle," UIS coach Adam Hall said. "They are a good team. We had some great spells."
 
Milla connected on serve from Rory Carlson off a volley and found the back of the net for the Prairie Stars (5-4-2, 4-2-1).
 
"It was a great goal," Milla acknowledged. "Rory sent me a really good ball for me to score. I'm really happy about the victory."
 
"I'm delighted with the goal as we have been practicing crossing and finishing a lot," Hall added.
 
During the fourth minute, Carlson served a free kick to Milla and Milla's header went just left of the goal.
 
Emmanuel Nhonga delivered a pass to Kemp in the box 38 minutes into the match. Kemp played a touch past a defender and his shot went just high of the goal.
 
During the 42nd minute, Harry Hiscock fired a free kick into the box. Fernando Sanz de Galdeano volleyed the ball to Kemp and Kemp registered the shot off the volley and McKendree's Brett Niedzwiecki came up with the save.
 
Rhys Wallace delivered a pass inward 46 minutes into the match. Sanz de Galdeano headed Wallace's pass. Mario Falsone headed Sanz de Galdeano's pass but the shot was saved.
 
During the 67th minute, James Stone set up Ryan Herling for a one-on-one situation above the box, but UIS's Pijus Petkevicius came up with the save. Stone shot the rebound from 35 yards out, but the shot was cleared.
 
Hampus Fillipsson contributed a pass to Jett Gay to the left of the goal. Gay redirected the pass to the right of the goal, but the shot was just wide.
 
McKendree created space upfield during the 92nd minute.
 
Milla iced the match with a game-winner during the 93rd minute.
 
"It was a tough match and they did a good job, defensively, but we kept the patience until we scored the game-winner," Milla commented.
 
Milla and Daniel Kemp contributed two shots, including one shot on goal. Mario Falsone registered a shot on goal while Andrew Mullican, Dan Mahony, Josh Moore, Thiago Fernandes, Adrian Ortega and Emmanuel Nhonga added shots.
 
Stone, Eddie Davis and Herling tallied two shots apiece for the Bearcats. Luke Schlichting, Matthew Moran, Ariel Cardozo, Gay, Diego Tapia-Fraites and Blake Williams provided shots.
 
Petkevicius recorded a four-save shutout in 92 minutes, 40 seconds as goalkeeper. The freshman from Vilnius, Lithuania posted his fifth shutout of the season, which puts him tied for first among UIS Division II single-season leaders and tied for second among UIS Division II career leaders.
 
Niedzwiecki saved two of the three shots he faced during the 92:40 he was in goal.
 
Both teams notched 11 shots apiece. UIS held a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal.
 
The University of Southern Indiana (8-1-1, 6-0-1) leads the GLVC while Maryville University (6-2-2, 5-1-1) is currently in second place and is one game out of first. UIS currently sits in a three-way tie for third with McKendree and the University of Indianapolis (8-2-1, 4-2-1), as the three teams are currently two games out of first.
 
The Prairie Stars host William Jewell College (6-5-1, 3-4) in a GLVC matchup on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Kiwanis Stadium.