TOLONO - After six heart-breaking attempts, the Unity High School soccer team finally broke through Monday night, securing their first win of the season with a 4-1 home victory over Hoopeston.
The Rockets, who had struggled to find the back of the net all season, relied on a blend of veteran poise and youthful energy to finally get over the hump, improving to 1-4-2.
Unity struck first at the end of the opening half, with seasoned forward Caden McCaskill converting a precise pass into the goal. Hoopeston answered in the second half when Beckett Moran found the net, briefly tying the match at 1-1. But the Rockets refused to let momentum slip away. McCaskill, feeding off another well-placed setup from teammates, scored again to put Unity ahead 2-1, then completed his first hat trick of the season for a 3-1 lead. Logan Wells added the finishing touch late in the game, pushing the final tally to 4-1.
Goalkeeper Carter Cromwell was a key factor in the win, turning away 14 Hoopeston shots and keeping the Rockets in control throughout.
Next up, Unity heads into conference play, beginning with a Thursday matchup against undefeated St. Joseph-Ogden (16-0) at Dick Duval Field. Following that, the Rockets travel to Rantoul (4-7, IPC 0-1) and conclude the week at home against Illinois Valley Central (7-6-2, IPC 0-2).
