Streamwood keeps shooting, finally downs Kaneland

Christian Vences did what Streamwood boys soccer coach Matt Polovin asked during halftime Monday.

Polovin told his team to keep shooting and something good will happen.

Vences fired a left-footed shot from 20 yards out with 18:30 remaining in the second half. The shot went through the hands of Kaneland goalkeeper Jarred Karr for the opening goal in the Sabres’ 2-0 nonconference victory at Millennium Field.

“Eventually someone had to step up and take shots,” Vences said. “We weren’t taking enough in the first half.”

Streamwood (4-1) had 4 shots on goal in the opening half but none came from good scoring opportunities. The Sabres possessed the ball better in the second half, which meant better scoring chances. Vences’ goal came as he was moving to his left just outside Kaneland’s penalty area.

Julio Luna made it 2-0 with 9:15 remaining. Nestor Ascencio found Luna on the left side in the penalty area. Luno then slid a shot past Karr.

“The second half we really started to open things up, play better balls and get more shots on frame,” Polovin said. “I told them (at halftime) to take shots, get them on frame. They’re going to go in or you’re going to get a rebound.”

Kaneland (2-2-1) was missing three starters, both outside midfielders and a defender. The Knights struggled to keep possession when they did have the ball. They managed only one shot on goal. Kaneland did have the best scoring chance in the first half as Arsim Azemi hit the crossbar with 18:45 remaining in the half.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to connect on as many passes as we needed to,” Knights coach Scott Parillo said. “We’ll learn from it. I wasn’t unhappy. We fought hard.”

Karr made 7 saves for the Knights.

Phil Lewy and Sergio Blanco combined for the shutout for Streamwood.