COLUMBIA, Ill. — Althoff junior Tyler Pollock made his coach look good Monday night.

Playing in a somewhat different position, Pollock struck for two late goals and helped the Crusaders to a 3-1 nonconference boys soccer win at Columbia.

With the non-league victory, Althoff improved to 9-2-1 while Columbia slipped to 7-3-1. Both teams made state trips last year. Althoff won the Class 2A title after finishing as state runner-up in 2021 and 2022.

Columbia took third in Class 1A in 2023 and was fourth in Class 1A a year ago. But the Eagles suffered heavy graduation losses and are a different squad this time around.

"They always play us tough,'' Althoff coach Skip Birdsong said, noting that he and Columbia coach Jamey Bridges both played at Granite City High. "That always adds to the game,

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