Streamwood lives to play another day

DeKALB - When Streamwood's Donnie Sosa turned in a header 57 seconds into a Class 3A DeKalb sectional semifinal against Huntley Wednesday, the daunting task for the Sabre defense was clear.

Hold on for another 79 minutes and 3 seconds and the postseason ride would continue.

With 9 shutouts in hand and a defensive front of Mike Delaney, Christian Balbino, Aaron Villegas and Erie Ortiz, there was little doubt that group would allow a 1-0 lead to fall by the wayside and the lead held to oust the Red Raiders for Streamwood's 10th shutout overall and its soccer program's first appearance in a sectional title game.

"A win is a win. It's a great win and it's the first time in history for us to be in the sectional championship game. The guy's played their hearts out. It's all I can ask them to do," said Sabres' coach Matt Polovin, who was proud of his back line the most.

"Probably every defender we had back there, especially Christian Balbino and Mike Delaney. Those guys in the middle, every game they're our rocks. They really keep those guys together back there, sometimes they make (goalkeeper Sergio Blanco's) job so much easier."

Blanco's job was indeed easy with just 1 save, but thanks to that back line Streamwood (15-5-2) remains without a blemish in the postseason, recording its third postseason shutout and fourth-straight overall. The Sabres, who haven't allowed a goal in 320 minutes, will square off Saturday at 12 p.m. with Rockford Boylan, which was a 1-0 winner over Crystal Lake South prior to Streamwood's win.

"We have a lot of heart and we have a goal that we want," Delaney said. "Everyone said that this would be our rebuilding season when we want to prove everyone wrong starting with the defense."

It started and ended with that defense as Huntley was limited to just 3 shots that all came in the first half.

"It's a great feeling to not get scored on and to keep that sheet clean," Balbino said. "It's our job as defenders to keep that sheet clean."

Delaney added: "We have a lot of guys who are willing to put their bodies out there to stop the ball and that really helps."

Streamwood tried everything it could to pad the lead so that sheet had an easier job of staying clean. Holding a 12-3 shot advantage, Alan Camarena and company fired away at Red Raiders' goalie Michael Parks (4 saves). Camarena hit the top of the crossbar in the 20th minute and had shots go wide in the 33rd and 35th minute. He also hit the post in the second half.

But of all the shots that did the damage, it was Rafael Gil's corner kick from the right side, as Streamwood had a 8-1 advantage in corners.

"I never thought it would be that quick. Getting that early goal gave us a lot of confidence," Sosa said. "All the boys got hyped up."

Huntley (9-13-6) had chances throughout on a cold, crisp 40-degree night. But time and time again the Sabres' defense spit out the Red Raiders' attack.

"They're a very good defensive team, they've got good defenders, (Delaney) in back just athletic and big and strong," Huntley coach Kris Grabner said. "We gave them everything they could handle."