Boys soccer: Bartlett claims UEC Valley crown

Since Bartlett opened its doors in 1997, it has never been able to call its boys soccer program conference champions.

But after the Hawks' commanding 6-1 win over East Aurora on Senior Night at Millennium Field Thursday in Streamwood, you can say adios to the 18-year drought.

Behind a hat trick from senior forward TJ Ivkovich and 1 goal and 2 assists from senior AJ Santori, Bartlett (12-7-2) won the Upstate Eight Valley Division with a 4-0-1 record, and its seniors did so rather convincingly and in style for their regular-season finale.

After the Tomcats (4-16-2, 0-4-1) knotted things at 1-1 in the 16th minute on a deep, lofty goal from Eric Simental, Bartlett fired 5 unanswered of its own, including goals from seniors Oliver Saile, and Venici Leone to head into the postseason with some momentum and rare Upstate Eight hardware.

"These boys worked hard and I think they deserve it," first-year coach and Bartlett alum Vince Di Nuzzo said of the Valley title. "We set goals at the beginning of the season and this was one of their goals. I thought it was attainable and I think they deserved it. It means a lot to our program. We want this to be a regular thing, not something that happens once every 10 years. We've been open since 1997, so it's nice."

What padded the win even more for Di Nuzzo and company - beside the fact that a team that's struggled to score at times put up 6 for the second time this year - was that the veteran Santori, who's battled injuries throughout this season, capped off the win with his first goal of the season in the 42nd minute. Santori, usually a plate setter in the midfield, actually meant to cross the ball but it took a life of its own from about 40 yards out.

"There was a lot of movement off the ball," said Santori, who was looking for Ivkovich and Timmy Riordan on the wing. "I actually meant to cross it but it actually just went it. I was surprised. But I am glad I got it. I had been waiting for it."

"I was so happy for him," Di Nuzzo said. "(AJ's) created so many chances for our team in terms of assists and in terms of playmaking that doesn't show up on the stat sheet; and he's had his chances to score and put himself into great positions to score. He just hasn't got it until today and it was nice for him to get it, especially the game before the playoffs."

Santori also assisted on Saile's goal in the first half and Ivkovich's goal in the second half. Ivkovich scored the game's opening goal on a breakaway thanks to a feed from Igor Zwada down the middle of the field in the 12th minute and the goals kept coming his way. In fact, Ivkovich had a chance to score a fourth goal on 1 of Bartlett's 22 shots, but missed point blank.

"I think I could've had a little more than four, I was trying to go for six," Ivkovich said. "We took a lot more shots than we usually do and everything started clicking right for us."

Joey Mirsky and Riordan were also credited with assists as Bartlett dominated possession with a 19-shot advantage on the Tomcats, who played a player down in the second half, giving Hawks keeper Jake Hasenstein an easy night with just 2 saves.

"I told my boys to focus on playing good, getting good passes and playing good so when we go to regionals we have good ball control, we're talking and communicating," East Aurora coach Krystina Leyva said. "Even though we were down a player and playing a stronger team, my players still did well."