Warren won’t pass up victory at Lake Forest

Tuesday’s boys soccer match featuring Lake Forest and Warren wasn’t great by design.

But that doesn’t diminish the great — and fortunate — finish for Warren.

With Warren leading 1-0, forward Tony Severini made a run through the right side of the box and headed for the end line. He attempted a service back the other way, toward the goal mouth.

Only instead of finding a teammate, Severini netted his seventh goal of the season, in the upper corner.

It ended up being the winning goal as Warren topped the host Scouts 2-1 in a North Suburban Lake Division match.

“Coach (Jason Ahonen) always has said that the goalkeeper was off in space and playing off his line,” said Severini, who scored in the 64th minute and put the Blue Devils ahead 2-0.

“I was sending it over for somebody to head it, but it found its way in. I guess anything can happen. I did put the ball on target and sent the ball from almost on the end line.”

Warren (11-2-1, 3-0) remained unbeaten in Lake Division play, joining both Libertyvlle (11-1, 2-0) and Lake Zurich (7-3-3, 2-0).

“It’s always important, being a division game,” Ahonen said. “One team is undefeated and one team isn’t. Just glad to leave here with a win. This was a tough place to play.

“It was a game of ups and downs, on the field and off the field. Our biggest thing is, are we going to put enough balls in the back of the net to win?”

Warren got its other goal near the end of the first half in the 36th minute when Sean Kirwan finished a shot that came off the hands of Lake Forest keeper Sam Audley (9 saves) after the Blue Devils’ Aunor Solis had the initial shot

Lake Forest (7-3, 2-1) responded with its goal in the 75th minute of play as Ian Forlow scored on a free kick.

“I thought we hung with (Warren),” Lake Forest coach Rob Parry said. “Warren recovered well and had bodies in the box to stop our chances. We just didn’t create a clear-cut opportunity. Daniel Sczcepanek (midfield) and Patrick Schulz played well in the back for them.”

Warren had a couple of key players who battled through injuries and played against Lake Forest. Schulz (sweeper) had a stiff back and Alexis Lopez (midfielder) was limited by a bruised knee that was injured in practice.

Ahonen received a red card in the second half and will have to sit out Warren’s next game.