Huntley savors regional soccer championship
A multitude of injuries. Tough losses and a rigorous schedule.
The 2014 regular season was certainly one to forget for the Huntley boys soccer team.
But with the beginning of the IHSA playoffs, all teams start the postseason 0-0.
It is the new beginning Huntley certainly needed.
The top-seeded Red Raiders, getting hot at the right time, knocked off third-seeded Rockford Jefferson 2-1 to claim the championship of the Class 3A Huntley regional Saturday afternoon.
The Red Raiders (10-12-5) advance to the DeKalb sectional to play Streamwood Wednesday at 7 p.m.
"It is nice to be healthy," said Huntley coach Kris Grabner. "We had as many as eight kids out with injuries. We are playing good teams like Cary-Grove and (Crystal Lake) South with six starters out. We were depleted with injuries during most of the regular season, Honestly, Jefferson outplayed us. We were good enough when we had to be. Will all these kids have been though this season, they deserve the regional championship."
The Red Raiders dented the scoreboard first when Mario Carlo Vergara emerged with the ball 10 yards from the net and blasted a shot past J-Hawk goalie Luis Trejo with 28:55 remaining in the first half.
"It was good to get a 1-0 lead," said Grabner. "It is much easier to play with the lead than play from behind. Mario's shot was a cannon."
The Red Raiders grabbed a 2-0 lead when Angel Sanchez, who was tackled in the penalty box, blasted a penalty kick past Trejo to give Huntley a 2-0 advantage with 4:31 left in the first half.
"When I take a penalty kick I make sure I know exactly where I'm shooting the ball," said Sanchez. "It is all about relaxing and concentrating. With all the injuries we have had to go through to win the regional is awesome. Coach said that our team has improved more than any team he has coached in 23 years."
Jefferson finally got on the scoreboard when Alejandro Gutierrez pushed a shot past Huntley sophomore goalie Michael Parks on a 30-yard direct kick with 4:05 4:08 remaining to make the score 2-1.
Huntley outshot Jefferson 8-6. Parks registered 4 saves for the regional champs.
"Michael should have had that last save," said Grabner. "He has good hands and made some good saves tonight."
Trejo collected 3 saves for the J-Hawks.