The first-ever night game at Monmouth-Roseville High School’s Pattee Fields was a memorable one for Titan senior midfielder Bruntsh Bolese, who netted four goals – including one just 35 seconds into the game – to lift the hosts to a 4-1 victory over Illini Bluffs Tuesday night in the season opener for both teams.
Before the lights were even turned on in the 7 p.m. game, Bolese and Sang Lian joined forces on a give-and-go down the middle on the Titans’ first attack of the season. Bolese scored his second goal of the game on a free kick in the 16th minute. A Tiger defender tried to save the goal-bound shot off the line, but it caromed in for a 2-0 M-R lead.
Just 86 seconds before halftime, IB halved the deficit, with Korbin Shake scoring on a loose ball in front of the goal following a free kick.
In the second half, the Tigers had some attempts to tie the score, but the next goal came from Bolese with 20:07 left on a pass from freshman Francisco Tomas Francisco. Bolese added his fourth goal on a rebound in the final minute, when IB goalie Will Uptmoore managed two quick saves, but could not stop Bolese’s close-range shot.
Uptmoore finished with eight saves for Illini Bluffs, while sophomore Alex Sostarecz earned his varsity win for the Titans, stopping three shots. M-R held a 22-10 edge in shots and a 6-1 edge in corners.
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