John Bentler (Sr.-Seattle, Wash.) scored his first goal of the season to get the Lakeland University men's soccer team on the board in an eventual 4-1 loss to Illinois Institute of Technology Wednesday afternoon at Taylor Field.

Bentler converted a penalty kick in the 74th minute, with his shot deflected by Illinois Tech goalkeeper Alex Kern before bouncing just over the goal line. Bentler scored his fourth career goal but the Muskies, who dropped to 3-14-1 overall and 0-9 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference matches.

Illinois Tech (6-10-1 overall, 2-6-1 NACC) built a first half lead that was too much for Lakeland to overcome despite improved second half play.

The Scarlet Hawks led 3-0 at halftime, with a goal by Conner Shaw just 2 minutes, 43 seconds into the game and then two goals 3:48 apart later in the half, the first by Michael Kaczowka at 26:08 the match and the second by Shaw in the 30th minute.

Illinois Tech added a fourth goal in the 58th minute when David de la Fuente served in a corner kick that Peter Fouchet headed in. The Muskies controlled possession for a good share of the second half, though, outshooting the Scarlet Hawks 9-6 over the final 45 minutes.

Ryoto Kinoshita (Sr.-Kanagawa, Japan) led the Lakeland attack with four shots and prior to Bentler's goal had the team's best chance, hitting the crossbar with a bending shot from the left that Thomas Sanuk (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) also followed up with a shot high.

Illinois Tech finished with a 14-10 advantage in shots for the match, on the strength of outshooting Lakeland 8-1 in the first half.

Aaron Smith (So.-Lake Geneva, Wis.) and Alex VandenAvond (So.-Luxemburg, Wis.) shared duties in goal, with Smith making the lone save. Defender Denver Roberts (So.-East Troy, Wis.) also accounted for a team save for Lakeland, in perfect position on the goal line to kick away a hard Illinois Tech shot in the first half.

The Muskies are home one final time for the season on Saturday when they host Benedictine University at 6 p.m.