Boylan edges LZ for Barrington title
In every game this season, Lake Zurich's boys soccer team has stayed close to the teams it has faced - though the outcomes don't always show it.
Lake Zurich had another hard-nosed effort Saturday night as it went after unbeaten Rockford Boylan on Saturday night. But the Bears lost a 1-0 decision to the Titans in the championship game of the Barrington Classic.
"I thought we gave a good battle," Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. "(Boylan's) style is to sit back and look for the transition. They clog the defensive end and work for set pieces. I thought we controlled the possession - they didn't look to do that too much. I thought we controlled the midfield, especially in the second half. We had more of the play and more of the chances."
The Bears (4-3, 2-2 finish in the Classic) just couldn't get the ball into the back of the net. Lake Zurich had several chances but Titans keeper Nathan Wisby and the Boylan defense stood firm.
"Trying to finish is the toughest part in any game," Schmitz said. "That's the magic trick. It's something that we have to look at in the offensive third, finishing those opportunities."
Boylan stays unbeaten at 6-0-1 after winning all four games in the tournament.
The Titans got the goal that they needed from Jordan Miller, who scored on a rebound in the 32nd minute after Tristan Davenport struck the initial free kick that got loose in front of the goal.
"We fought hard against four good teams this week," Boylan coach Chris Mera said. "Lake Zurich by far was the toughest that we faced in terms of physicality. I think their midfield was better than ours. We pride ourselves on defense. We try get to transition on offense. Hats off to Lake Zurich, they gave us a battle."
Warren 1, Barrington 0: Jacob Luka scored the eventual game-winner late in the first half as the Blue Devils prevailed in another tough matchup.
Warren keeper RJ Hill made 10 stops, including stopping 4 point-blank shots for his fourth clean sheet, and defender Alex Fratila helped preserve the shutout with diving leg save at the back post.
Warren improved to 4-1-3; the Devils won three of four matches in the tournament. Barrington went 2-2 over the week and sits at 3-3.
"RJ (Hill) played big for us," Warren coach Jason Ahonen said. "We were fortunate. When two good teams play, some things will happen, and we got lucky here today. It was a good day and a good tournament for us. We were able to finish off our last three with shutouts, and wins are great going into conference."
Luka scored the game-winner in the 36th minute from in front after taking a touch pass from Nick Haas.
In the second half, the Broncos were pushing in search of a tying goal. But Hill was making stop after stop, and he got a big assist when Fratila made a stop on a shot from Barrington's Luke Sellers in the 55th minute.
The Broncos' main foe right now is injuries. They'd lost three players in a loss to Lake Zurich on Friday evening, and several more left against Warren.
"It's alright, because it gave a chance for other kids to play," said Barrington coach Scott Steib of playing shorthanded. "We're still a work in progress. We're glad its September 7, and we've got time to do the work."