Willowbrook picks good time to end losing streak

One of Willowbrook's players asked his teammates, "What's it called that we're playing in on Saturday?"

At the same time a couple of them laughed before uttering, "It's the regional title game."

Hey, the Warriors aren't used to going to his far in the postseason.

They got there because they stunned Lake Park 1-0 at Wednesday's Class 3A Lake Park regional semifinal in Roselle.

They also broke a five-game losing streak.

"This was one of our biggest wins ever in the program," Willowbrook coach Peter Ginter said. "I don't know when we last got to a regional title. When Mike Hoerdeman was the coach in the 1990s, I know we had some good teams, but I'm not sure if they won a regional."

Because it's been a long time since the Warriors (11-6-0) have done well in the postseason, it only makes sense that a pair of players, who have played together for more than half their lives collaborated on the game-winning goal.

Junior Saul Hernandez and sophomore Miguel Correa have been teammates since they were 5 or 6 years old and their knowledge of each other's games helped them score the biggest goal of their season.

Early in the second half, Hernandez took a pass from Correa and dribbled a bit toward the left side of the net. He had an opportunity to take a shot but chose to dish the ball back to Correa who buried it past Lake Park goalkeeper Michael Jasiak.

"We've been playing together since we were small so we know each other really well," Correa said. "I really thought he was going to take the shot, but I called his name and he decided to give me the ball."

Hernandez said that he was surprised a bit when Correa followed him after sending him the pass. He was considering taking the shot but was leery since he's not as confident with his left foot. While considering his options, his name was yelped.

"My left foot just isn't as strong," Hernandez said. "Once I heard him call my name I got him the ball. I have a lot of confidence in him."

Lake Park (11-4-4) hit the left post early on and had several other good scoring opportunities, but the Warriors did a fantastic job of clogging the penalty area and getting in the way of shots. There were countless shots taken by Lake Park that the Warriors stepped in front of, forcing the ball to rebound off their bodies and usually out of harm's way.

"Give them credit because they played great defensively," Lake Park coach Anthony Passi. "We had some chances, but we struggled in controlling the ball and things just didn't go our way."

Lake Park won't have a chance to win its fourth regional title in five seasons, but Willowbrook will have a chance to win its first. The Warriors won a sectional title in 1975, prior to when regionals were part of the state series.

"We had some tough games at the end of the season to Hinsdale Central and Downers Grove South, but they really helped prepare us for tonight," Ginter said. "We knew this was going to be high-intensity and fast-paced and the guys were ready."

Now they're ready to make school history. It won't come easy, though. They'll have to upset top seed Schaumburg on Saturday night.