Wallace’s Two Goals Not Enough as Civic Memorial and Litchfield Settle for 3-3 Draw

LITCHFIELD, Ill. — Senior Reed Wallace scored twice and junior Colin Hoffman set up both of Civic Memorial’s late-game threats, but the Eagles could not find a fourth goal on the road and settled for a 3-3 tie with Litchfield in non-conference play Saturday.

The draw came in a match that stayed level in every meaningful way. Civic Memorial got a goal apiece from its two primary scorers and a two-assist afternoon from Hoffman, while Litchfield answered with three different finishers — senior Landon Wernsing, senior Cambren Buzick and junior Jaxon Ray — and never let the Eagles pull clear.

Wallace carried the attack for Civic Memorial, accounting for four of the Eagles’ six scoring points on his two goals. Junior Maddox Parker supplied the other, and Hoffman was the common thread, picking up assists on two of the three Eagle strikes. The Eagles put real pressure on the Litchfield net throughout, forcing 10 saves from senior keeper Cooper Martin, who was the difference in keeping the Purple Panthers level each time Civic Memorial threatened to take control.

At the other end, Litchfield spread the responsibility around. Wernsing finished with a goal and an assist for a team-high three points, Buzick and Ray each buried one, and sophomore Michael Wujek chipped in an assist. The Purple Panthers were efficient with their looks, converting three of the seven shots that reached Eagles senior goalkeeper Brady Strubhart.

Strubhart went the full 80 minutes in net for Civic Memorial, making four saves and allowing three goals. No overtime minutes were logged, leaving the teams to split the result at the end of regulation.

For Civic Memorial, the takeaway is a volume of chances that did not quite translate — 13 shots on frame against a goalkeeper who was equal to all but three of them. For Litchfield, it was a matter of taking what it got and holding the line when the Eagles pushed.