Rally Madison Complete The Comeback Tonight In Rockford
Madison rallied back in second half to secure all three points in late victory
Lineup Notes
MAD: #0 Zillman, #3 Maurer, #7 Fernau, #8 Christopher, #11 Bever, #13 Gordon, #18 Walos, #22 Hevey, #27 C. Arnold, #28 Mikkelson, #30 Shea
RRF: #2 Eitz, #3 Chaves, #8 Simas, #9 Kling, #12 Mahoney, #13 Novak, #15 White, #21 Schmidt, #23 Coyne, #24 Lepage, #99 Revolorio
Match Action
Rally Madison FC controlled much of the early tempo, dominating possession in the opening minutes and quickly testing Rockford’s backline. Hevey ignited the attack in the 4’ with a dangerous ball from the left corner, and Gordon and Fernau both found opportunities minutes later as Rally consistently tested the Raptor’s goalkeeper. Despite Madison’s strong offensive presence, the hosts remained dangerous on the counter. Zillman was called into action multiple times, offering a pair of noteworthy one-on-one saves in the 16’ and 25’ to keep the match level. Rockford almost grabbed the lead in the 21’, but Zillman came up big once again with a crucial stop. Rally Madison continued to create chances throughout the half, including a strong effort by Fernau in the 22’ that required a miraculous diving save by the Rockford goalkeeper. Consistent service into the box and high pressure in the attacking third kept Madison in the game, but the finishing touch never came. The breakthrough finally came in the 33’ when Rockford’s Novak delivered a ball over Madison’s midfield and defensive lines to Lepage, who chipped it past Zillman to secure the opening goal and give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Madison attempted to find the equalizer before the break, but the Raptors held the 1-0 advantage into halftime.
Trailing, Rally Madison emerged from the break eager to level. They nearly found the equalizer in the 49’ when a dangerous opportunity prompted another strong save from the Rockford goalkeeper. Madison continued to generate chances, though many came from distance as the visitors searched for renewed offensive rhythm. The breakthrough arrived in the 54’. Rally Madison drew level when a perfectly delivered ball to the right side found Gordon, who buried the chance to tie the match at 1-1. Following Rally Madison’s goal, the match settled into back-and-forth play, with possession generally split equally between the two sides. Both clubs traded scoring opportunities, but the goalkeepers continued to deny quality chances and keep the match deadlocked. Madison nearly grabbed the lead in the 71’ when a powerful left-footed strike almost found the back of the net, but the Raptor’s keeper came up big with an outstanding one-handed save. The visitors continued to push forward and created another goal-scoring opportunity in the 81’ as momentum began to shift in their favor. Rally Madison’s chances culminated during the closing moments of the match. In the 90’, Hevey capitalized to give Rally Madison a 2-1 lead at the death. The hosts searched for a response, but Zillman produced one final clutch save in the 90’+1 to keep the advantage and secure all three points.
Building on the momentum from the club’s first-ever win Friday night against Rochester FC, Rally Madison secured its second victory of the inaugural season with a hard-fought 2-1 result.
Goal Summary
1-0 (33’) RRF — Lepage
1-1 (54’) MAD — Gordon
1-2 MAD (90’) — Hevey
Disciplinary Summary
Next Match
Next up, Rally Madison FC will stay on the road to face Edgewater Castle FC on Thursday, June 16th, at Holmgren Athletic Complex. Fans can support the Club by purchasing single-game tickets, season tickets, or shopping at the Rally Merch Store!
About Rally Madison FC: Rally Madison will begin play in May of 2026, featuring the top pre-professional players in the country. More information on the Club and USL W League can be found at www.rallymadisonfc.com.
