Maria Garcia's name won't be found in scoring column in Morton College's 2-0 win over Elgin, but her presence made all the difference in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference women's soccer game September 17 in Cicero.
 
"She was the player of the game," Morton College women's soccer coach Juan Franco said of the sophomore midfielder/stopper, "from the first minute to the last. She really worked hard and really stepped up in the second half when Elgin started putting a lot of pressure on us."
 
The game was halted for 75 minutes late in the first half because of a storm rolling through the area. Up to that point, the Panthers dominated play in matching last year's victory total of three. Morton College (3-2, 2-0 in the Skyway) kept the ball on its end, which produced the game's only two scores.
 
Morton College struck early. While Leyda Guzman didn't receive an assist for Alexia Teran's goal at the 6-minute mark of the first half, she merited credit. While Guzman got tied up driving to the goal, it freed up Teran, who punched the ball into the net for a 1-0 Morton College advantage.
 
Guzman was denied on several other opportunities before chipping in a goal that deflected off the hand of an outstretched Elgin goalie at the 30-minute mark. Officials stopped play at the 40-minute mark. When play resumed, the first half was completed. There was a short break before the second half began.
 
"I didn't like stopping the game, but the safety of the players comes first," Franco said. "The team is doing a good job of working together and little by little, we're getting better."
 
The win left Morton College and Moraine Valley tied on top of the Skyway standings at 2-0. The Panthers have not allowed a goal in Skyway play.
 
"We're trying to focus on the conference," Franco said. "We know we have some strong teams coming and we're trying to do the best we can."
 
Morton College picked up a game against the varsity reserve at Illinois Institute of Technology. Game time is 7 p.m. Monday, September 21, in Chicago.