TROY — Nick Funk said his Alton High boys soccer team reached a level he’d not seen before Saturday against Triad.

Playing short-handed after losing their starting goalie to a red card, the Redbirds got a goal from Jake Lombardi in the 70th minute and survived the nonconference nail-biter 2-1.

“This was one of the hardest-played games for our boys all year,” Funk said. “They showed grit and they showed focus.”

After the redbirds went ahead 1-0 in the 22nd minute on a breakaway goal from Roman Thomeczek from a Sam Van Voorhis assist, the roof apparently came crashing down on Alton when starting goalie Hunter Dill was red-carded for picking up the ball outside the penalty area, making it an intentional handball.

“It was hard (for Dill) to see the poorly painted lines on the football field,” Funk said. “I don’t believe a straight red was deserved, but that’s neither here nor that at this point.

“Our boys found a new level of focus and determination after that happened. We played just as hard, if not harder, after that.”

The Redbirds held the Knights to just three shots from that point.

The victory lifts Alton to 7-4, while Triad dropped to 5-7-1.

Triad tied the game 1-1 early in the second half when Zach Kraabel scored a back-door goal from a Grant Keller assist on the Knights’ first and only shot of the game in the 53rd minute.

The Redbirds, who outshot Triad 7-3, held fast. Backup goalie Myles Marfell and the Redbirds defense held Triad at bay. And Lombardiand Thomeczek took care of things on offense.

The winning goal came when Lombardi sent a through-ball to Lombardi, who slid the ball past the Triad goalie.

“It’s not easy to scored a man down,”Funk said, “especially against a good team like Triad and especially when it’s the winning goal late in the game.

“I was very proud of the guys today for the ability to overcome and grind it out.”