Familiar pattern for Mundelein in loss to Deerfield

The final score has been too familiar for Mundelein's boys soccer team.

Playing a nonconference match against Deerfield on Saturday, the Mustangs were held scoreless for the third time in four games. The three losses were all 1-0 finals.

Despite several quality scoring chances against Deerfield, Mundelein fell to 10-6-3.

"It's soccer. It happens," Mustangs coach Ernie Billittier said. "We're just not finishing. We actually look really sharp. I think (the scoring) will come. I can't be mad at the guys. We just didn't score. That's why soccer is a brutal game."

"I think our forwards and midfielders have a lot of chemistry," Mustangs senior midfielder Lino Garcia said. "We work off each other very well. But I think that we might have been too unselfish up top."

Deerfield keeper AJ Schmitz made 9 of his 11 saves in the first half but had to leave the game for a head injury in the 48th minute. Warriors reserve keeper Kyle Oldham took over and made 5 saves, including one on a penalty kick in the 67th minute.

"(Mundelein) came out in the first half and their midfielders were so strong," Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said. "They were moving off the ball so well. I thought they could've been up easily by three or four goals by the half. The big thing was that our goalie came up big. Actually, both of them were big in this one.

"(Mundelein's) best opportunities were on dead-ball plays and crosses," Hurtig added. "They were strong in the back and they just got unlucky on some of those headballs and shots that just missed the goal."

Deerfield (9-7-4) scored the game's only goal in the 38th minute when Cooper Wagner headed in a ball off a rebound. Mundelein keeper Donnie Kvien made 8 stops.