By: Vinnie Birk - Blackburn College Sports Information

In the home opener for the Blackburn College Men's Soccer Team, the Beavers bested the Highlanders by a score of 3-1.

Blackburn controlled the entire game and completely dominated the opposition. The Beavers mustered 24 total shots and held MacMurray to just five. They also outcornered MacMurray seven to four. Shane Rogers (Granite City, Ill.) was not tested much today, but came up big by making a diving stop on a free kick in the second half.

Leandro Fonteles (Manaus, Brazil), Jake Pope (Waggoner, Ill.) , Julian Valencia (Highland, Ill.) led the offensive charge as each had at least five shots and one goal. The setup machine Jonathon Velazquez (Bolingbrook, Ill.) picked up two assists in the contest to help Blackburn on the attack all game.

The Beavers got a little taste of conference action as they played a familiar SLIAC foe Thursday afternoon. Blackburn will still have a couple more chances to fine tune their game before the real conference season starts next Wednesday. Lakeland and Rockford will come to Carlinville this weekend as they finish up their streak of three games in four days.