Chargers hold off Heartland 1-0, will host Region 4 quarterfinal Saturday on 12-game unbeaten streak

GALESBURG — The Sandburg men's soccer team closed its regular season with a 1-0 victory Saturday evening at Kleine Field over Heartland and will ride into the postseason on a hot streak.

Saturday's victory extended the Chargers' unbeaten string to a dozen games, with them going 9-0-3 during that time. Sandburg hasn't lost since Sept. 8 at Truman.

Sandburg earned the second seed and a first-round bye in the Region 4 tournament. The Chargers (12-2-3) will host No. 7 Triton or No. 10 Moraine Valley in a quarterfinal match at noon Saturday at Kleine Field. The contest will be streamed on the Sandburg YouTube channel.

If the Chargers win Saturday, they'd host a semifinal at 2 p.m. Nov. 4. Sandburg earned a 3-1 win at Triton on Sept. 28 and played to a 1-1 draw at Moraine Valley on Oct. 11.

In Saturday's win over Heartland, the Chargers managed just two shots on goal, but Ramon Ponga's first-half score proved to be all they'd need.

The visiting Hawks dominated much of the action in the first half, but Ponga's chip shot over the Heartland keeper, who'd come well out of his net, floated into the top right corner in the 37th minute. Luis Garcia was credited with an assist on the goal.

Sandburg's defense stymied the Hawks, who managed to put 18 shots on frame but couldn't get one by keeper Gautier Ramont. His 18 saves were far and away the most for a Chargers goalie this season, and it marked Ramont's third clean sheet of the year.

REGION 4 DIVISION II MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
First round
Oct. 29
Game 1 — No. 9 McHenry County at No. 8 DuPage
Game 2 — No. 12 Black Hawk at No. 5 Oakton
Game 3 — No. 11 Rock Valley at No. 6 Morton
Game 4 — No. 10 Moraine Valley at No. 7 Triton
Quarterfinals
Noon Nov. 1
Game 5 — Winner 1 at No. 1 Madison
Game 6 — Winner 2 at No. 4 Elgin
Game 7 — Winner 3 at No. 3 Prairie State
Game 8 — Winner 4 at No. 2 Sandburg
Semifinals
2 p.m. Nov. 4 at higher seed
Game 9 — Winner 5 vs. winner 6
Game 10 — Winner 7 vs. winner 8
Championship
Noon Nov. 8 at Madison 

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