Warren nets first Barrington Classic title

Blair McCormick set the tone with a diving stop to start the penalty kicks, and freshman Martin Fuentes finished it off for Warren's boys soccer team with the game-winning kick.

The Blue Devils got past host Barrington 1-0, prevailing 4-2 in kicks, to capture the championship of the Barrington Classic on Saturday night.

It was Warren's first title at Barrington in six tries. The Blue Devils had never before advanced to the title game.

"I'm really not a fan of PK's, so I'm glad to get the monkey off our back," Warren coach Jason Ahonen said. "PK's are a coin flip. You trust that your boys will make them. It's such a crapshoot. Somebody guesses right. Somebody guesses wrong. Somebody hits the post, and somebody doesn't."

After 80 minutes of regulation time, the teams played another 20 minutes before heading to penalty kicks. Warren (4-1-1, 4-0 tournament) counted on McCormick, who made a diving save to his right on the opening kick.

"I really thought it set the tone for the rest of the guys," said McCormick, who made 8 stops. "It gave us the confidence to do our job. We practice PK's almost every practice."

Warren had four of its five kickers convert. Fuentes, the last kicker, calmly buried his opportunity.

"I feel happy and proud to get the winning goal," Fuentes said. "I've never been in a situation like that ever before."

Barrington (4-1-1, 2-1-1) lost for the first time this fall. Broncos coach Scott Steib believes there's a lot to gain from the match.

"It was a good game and we played well," Steib said. "We just didn't get that last touch. I'm all right with this one. To be where we're at this early is great. (Warren) was a good team. They seem to have this field's number. They came down here for the (supersectional) a few years ago and for the tournament. They seem to get good results here."

Ahonen knows the tournament will serve his team well going forward as well.

"It's nice to play such good competition early in the season, where you can have a playoff-type atmosphere and the whole scenario of the overtime and the PK's," Ahonen said. "This opportunity will benefit us down the road, and that's why you play the teams you play."