Huntley slips past Dundee-Crown

The play wasn’t designed for Aleks Rys.

The Huntley senior was just in the right place at the right time, heading a corner kick into the net. The goal broke a scoreless tie just before halftime and started the Red Raiders on the way to a 2-1 boys soccer win against Dundee-Crown Tuesday in the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division opener for both teams.

As the tight, defensive first half was winding down, the Raiders found themselves with a corner kick. Niko Miholopolous lofted the ball toward the goal, where Rys was able to rise up and deflect it. The ball hit the upright and caromed back into the net, giving the hosts the lead for good.

“It wasn’t really meant for me,” said Rys. “The coaches always tell us to always attack the ball no matter what, so I just attacked the ball, got a nick on it, and it went in.”

Ten minutes into the second half, Scott Dorvilier scored on a breakaway for the Raiders (8-2-3 overall).

The Chargers didn’t give up, though. After missing on several chances, the visitors finally got on the board when Kyle Hagan fired in a shot in the air from about 20 yards out with about 10 minutes remaining. Ruben Munoz got the assist.

After giving up the goal, the Raiders regrouped and their defense in front of goalkeeper Austen Emery didn’t allow the Chargers (6-3) many good looks the rest of the way.

“We went away from our game plan,” said Chargers coach Rey Vargas. “We started playing this long ball stuff, which we just don’t do. We haven’t done that all season, and I don’t know why all of a sudden we were trying to do that. I guess we were trying to play with the wind advantage, but that’s just not our game.”