Unity soccer drops season debut, hosts St. Teresa next
Unity soccer dropped its opener 7-0 at Newton and returns home Tuesday to face St. Teresa in nonconference play.
NEWTON - Unity struggled to find its footing in its season debut, falling 7-0 to Newton on the road Monday. The Rockets managed just one shot on goal in the 80-minute contest as the Eagles, last year’s Little Illini Conference champions, controlled possession throughout.
Newton broke through early with goals from Samuel Rodriguez, Lance Volk, and freshman Daniel Falcioni, who added another in the second half. Anderson converted a penalty kick, while junior Henry Will scored in each half to round out the attack.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Unity's Tyler Huntington dribbles the ball in last regional semifinal against Monticello. He is one of five seniors leading the Rockets this season.
The Eagles, who finished 10-7-1 last season and went unbeaten in league play, return a deep roster of 21 players this fall.
Unity, coming off an 8-8-3 finish in 2024 and a fourth-place showing in the Illini Prairie Conference, has a mix of veterans and underclassmen looking to grow into bigger roles. Seniors Matthew Hollett, Tyler Huntington, McCaskill, Caden, and Emma Swisher anchor the lineup. Sophomores Joel Hoewing, Ian Skibbe, Logan Wells, and Jack White join the rotation along with freshman contributors Kenny Adcock, Konnor Bletscher, Luc Popovics, Dylan Stierwalt, Javy Zavala, and Ethan Zgura. Carter Cromwell is the squad’s lone member of the Class of 2027.
The Rockets won two league matches last year, defeating Monticello and Illinois Valley Central, and will look to build consistency in nonconference play. They return to action this afternoon, hosting St. Teresa (1-0) at 4:30 p.m., followed by a Saturday home match against Argenta-Oreana.
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St. Joseph-Ogden's James Barron celebrates a turnover for the Spartans during their season opener at Monticello in 2024. SJO will be without the senior's grit and determination that helped them to a perfect 9-0 conference record.
