St. Viator survives Carmel's rally

When St. Viator and Carmel Catholic get together in any sport, it's just a little bit more than another East Suburban Catholic Conference matchup.

That was certainly true Monday as the boys soccer teams met in Mundelein.

St. Viator escaped with a 3-2 victory in a game that went down to the wire.

For many of the Lions (12-5-1, 4-1), the outcome provided some redemption for the playoff they suffered against the Corsairs (5-8-2, 2-3) last fall.

St. Viator had been in control and at one point held a 3-0 second-half lead. But the Lions gave up a pair of goals, four minutes apart, in the final 12 minutes.

The Lions' defense was led by Chris Beiersdorf, Brandon Braun, Javier Romero and Sean Lonigro. The back line was on its game for the first 68 minutes before the late game about-face.

“I think we need to communicate more,” Beiersdorf said. “Once one guy breaks down, we all break down. We were moving, and clicking out of the back.

“It was a huge upset last year (in the playoffs). Coming back to beat them on their home turf was still pretty good.”

The Corsairs rallied with a goal in the 68th minute, as Robert Rao scored off a cross from Justin Ehren. Four minutes later, Reed Wilson sent a corner kick toward the goal; it went off the leg of Josh Grezesiak, and Ryan McKernan finished at the back post to cut the St. Viator lead to 3-2.

Carmel kept pushing the attack and nearly had the tying goal on a breakaway that was pushed wide of the post in the 78th minute. The Corsairs had one last opportunity in the final minute, but the Lions defenders held their ground and cleared the ball.

“I feel like we waited too long to turn it on,” Carmel coach Ray Krawzak said. “At the end of the game, (St. Viator) got defensive and packed it in. That's when we started to maintain possession. If we did that in the first half, or at the start of the second half, stronger, it could've been a different game. It was a good match.”

St. Viator broke a scoreless tie early in the second half when Patrick Hickey scored from a cross by Aidan Williams in the 43rd minute.

Just one minute later, the Lions were awarded a penalty kick with a foul in the area. But the kick was sent wide of the post.

Not long after, Ryan Carroll sent a cross from outside the box that was misdirected by a Carmel defender into the goal for a 2-0 St. Viator lead.

The Lions added their third goal in the 65th minute, when Williams settled a long service from Beiersdorf, beat a defender and found the back of the net for his 11th goal of the season.

“It was a great ball played through,” Williams said. “I just tried to do what I could and I was able to put it away. I knew that I could beat (the defender) with my speed. I just cut it back, and it worked.”

The Lions felt like they had the better of the play, but they are also very aware there's room for improvement.

“We had the game in control,” St. Viator coach Mike Taylor said. “It been our nemesis all year to mark up. They get the first one, and it gave them a chance to get back into the game.

“Offensively and midfield-wise, we played an awesome game. Defensively, we played a good game until the last 15 minutes. It was a little chaotic, but it was (Carmel) running on emotions and our kids were panicking at that time. We've got to get a lead and step up. We just have to do what we do best.”