Naperville Central, Naperville North to meet in sectional final

Like most seniors who play high school soccer, Naperville Central's Neal Hasan didn't want to see his final season end.

With only a few minutes remaining in overtime though, he realized that sad ending was a distinct possibility as the Redhawks trailed Batavia in Tuesday's Class 3A Metea Valley sectional semifinal.

He wouldn't let it end, though, as he scored the equalizer late in overtime and then the game-winning penalty kick once the game came down to PKs to earn a victory after overtime ended 3-3.

"When we were down like that we were really still fighting and as a senior I wasn't even close to being done with these boys," Hasan said. "There was no way I was going to let the season end and I just got a nice flick and put it past the keeper."

Batavia (8-10-6) surrendered an own goal with 18:36 left in the first half but scored the equalizer via David DiBiase with 4:18 left before halftime.

Erik Faessler's amazing header with 27:29 left in the second half gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the night, but it was short-lived when a penalty allowed Chris Schwaiger to tie the game at 2-2 on a PK about midway through the second half.

Matt Allen, the third senior to score on the night for the Bulldogs, once again put Batavia ahead with 8:14 remaining in the first half of overtime, but they just couldn't hold on for the victory.

"You know, it was a good game to watch and a nice game to coach," Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "We did everything we could to win that match and the boys should be proud of themselves."

Both teams split their first four penalty kicks. Batavia keeper Jimmy Perreault and Naperville Central's Joseph Kallikaden were both brilliant, each stopping a pair. Batavia then misfired too high on its final attempt, which set up Hasan to take the game-winner.

"We do penalties at the end of practice every day because we know it can come down to it anytime in the playoffs," Hasan said. "You just have to be confident with yourself. I saw the keeper go one way every time and I just put it in."

The Redhawks (10-10-0) had lost 7 of 8 at one point during the regular season but now will play for a sectional title. Talk about a major turnaround.

"At the end it comes down to the kids playing with a lot passion and a lot of desire," Redhawks coach Troy Adams said. "They really dug deep, especially in the final two minutes and really that's been the story of our postseason, find a way to product a goal. Sometimes we don't know how it happens, but the last couple games we've been fortunate to find one."

In the first semifinal Bolingbrook's two center backs were hampering Naperville North standout Chris Sullivan all night.

Sullivan battled through it; ultimately scoring a scrappy goal with 10.6 seconds left in the first half of the overtime.

The Huskies (17-4-0) then held on for the victory 1-0.

"I think I was in shock by how good their back line was," Sullivan said. "They were really fast and I think that shot was the first time we really tested their goalie. I think it luckily skipped right in front of him. It was scrappy, but in the playoffs you'll take anything you can get."

Sullivan's delivered huge goals all fall, but it was No. 19 on the season that extended his team's season to Friday's sectional final against Naperville Central.

"Sully's shot was off balance and not a great chance, but he finishes it far post," Huskies coach Jim Konrad said. "That's what he's done all year. He's a big-time kid who scores during big moments, and then at the end of the game he worked hard to ice it for us."