Boys soccer: Padilla's central to Hoffman's win at Schaumburg

Schaumburg conceded 3 goals and was stung by a superb second-half performance by Hoffman Estates' Noe Padilla, whose hat trick proved the difference in a 5-1 Hawks victory Tuesday in Mid-Suburban West boys soccer play hosted by the Saxons.

The impressive win for the Hawks (6-8-0, 4-6-0), which spoiled senior night at Gary Scholz Stadium, broke a long winless streak for Matt Sriver's team.

“I know we haven't beaten Schaumburg since I've been head coach here,” said Sriver. “We had a tough one with them last year that we eventually lost, but we've had a long dry spell against them. So it was good to finally get a win, and a really good one at that.”

Hoffman Estates faces Rolling Meadows and Larkin to wrap up the regular season before the state playoffs begin in two weeks.

“This could not have been a better night for me and my teammates,” began Padilla, who wears the captain's armband for the Hawks along with Sebastian Cajiao. “We beat Schaumburg for the first time in my four years with the varsity, I got my first ever 3-goal game in high school, and we began our week with a big win, which we hope will carry on through to the next two games this week.”

Cajiao, along with his back-line mates Jalen Lee, Joey Sopikiotis and Nelson Diaz Velasquez, bended at times but rarely broke in front of sophomore keeper Tyler Kelly.

“We all talked before this game how important it was to start strong, and to get a good result against one of our big rivals,” said Cajiao. “And I really felt we did exactly that, leading up to our first goal.”

Luis Gurrola opened the scoring at four minutes when he was put through by Alex Gonzalez, whose nicely weighted ball forced Saxons keeper Kolby Miller far off his line with a challenge.

A composed Gurrola touched past Miller, carried toward the endline, and fired his angled shot into the far inside netting.

Gurrola claimed an excellent second goal for the Hawks when the senior doubled the advantage in the 34th minute with some help by Ted Penev.

But the Saxons pulled that one back when Andrew Bird, terrific throughout his 80 minutes of playing time, drove his low drive in some sixty seconds later.

“We maybe relaxed a little too much after those two goals, but we came back to play a very good second half with some smart defending and really good work in our attack,” said Cajiao.

Schaumburg (2-10-1, 1-8-1), which in the first half did well to slow their opponent's attack down with a well executed, high, tight line to the tune of six offside calls, was not as fortunate after the break. The Hawks were able to stretch the Saxon's back line successfully and regularly.

Padilla made it 3-1 when he tricked his way past a pair of Saxons before finishing past Miller in the 45th minute. Padilla added another goal when his adept touch of a long free kick from the midline by Sopikiotis completed a spectacular goal.

An 80th-minute strike ended the memorable evening for the Hawks, who with these 3 points remain in the hunt for a top-six Mid-Suburban finish.

“I'm real proud of the effort the guys put forth tonight after that little lull in the first half when Schaumburg got themselves back into the game,” said Sriver. “I thought we outplayed them to get ourselves a real good win tonight.”

Schaumburg will be at Hersey on Thursday for its league finale.