Hornets remain at the top

Harvard junior Christian Carrillo (left) defends against Marengo's Vinnie Vega during the first period of their BNC East Division match. (Jenny Kane - jkane@shawmedia.com)

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HARVARD – Harvard’s Abraham Esquivel scored with 11:04 to go in the second half Monday to lead the Hornets’ boys soccer team to a 1-0 Big Northern Conference East Division win against Marengo.

Esquivel took ta pass from Jerry Martinez before using a nice touch to beat Marengo keeper Sergio Orozco for the game-winner on the Hornets’ Senior Night.

“I was nervous as I was running,” Esquivel said. “I saw an open space to the right, so I took it. The keeper thought I was going to shoot it, but I went past and took the shot and it went in.”

Harvard (14-4-2 overall, 6-1-1 BNC East) remained in first place in the division. The Hornets outshot Marengo (6-6-4, 2-2-4), 12-7.

“The kids came out and played hard,” Hornets coach David Abel said. “They have some goals and they want to accomplish them. We passed the ball well, and in the end, we were finally able to capitalize.”

Things got a little chippy between the teams in the second half.

With 29:28 left, Marengo’s Vinnie Vega got tangled with Harvard’s Isaih Solis, and both were issued yellow cards.

Later at 16:59, Marengo’s Nick Radcliff earned a yellow card for a scuffle with Harvard’s Eduardo Juarez.

The Hornets missed a prime opportunity to score in the first half when senior Nathan Baldwin dribbled a soft roller off the post with 28:28 left in the half.

Marengo’s had a chance to tie the score with 9:25 left when Zack Lundquist’s header off Vega’s free kick weakly rolled past the end line.

“They knew that if they won they could get a chance at first place,” Marengo coach Jim McKinnon said. “They wanted it. We had the opportunities but we didn’t do it.”

Harvard kept the ball in Marengo’s end of the field for most of the second half.

“We played well, most of all passing-wise,” Hornets senior Jose Juarez said. “We played okay in the last game, but to come out in this one it’s a whole new game. We kind of let down a little at times but came out ahead.”

Both teams will take on Genoa-Kingston in their next games, Harvard on Thursday and Marengo today.