Boys soccer: Benet rises to the occasion

Benet knew it was in for a challenge from Sterling during Tuesday's Class 2A St. Francis sectional semifinal.

Big-game tests against 3A teams during the boys soccer regular season had the Redwings more than prepared, though, as they shut down the Golden Warriors in the second half and earned a 4-2 victory.

They advanced to Saturday night's sectional title game Fenton.

"We're so battled-tested," Benet coach Sean Wesley said. "And with how well (goalkeeper) Brian (Gould) played tonight and the back line being all seniors, they knew what to expect. We weren't afraid of the huge challenge, and they all stepped up, especially in the second half."

Sterling (19-5-0) came in averaging just fewer than 5 goals a game and had already scored a school record 111 goals, but the Redwings held it scoreless in the second half after allowing the Golden Warriors to climb back from an early 2-0 deficit.

"In the first half we settled the ball well. We kept it and we connected," Benet senior Ben Kelly said. "Later in the first half, when they get the two goals, we were playing it behind. In the second half we settled it down and played to our style without letting them dictate the game."

Kelly did the damage in the early going for the Redwings as he scored twice in the opening 10 minutes.

"That's something we've been stressing all year," Kelly said. "We were pressing really hard and forcing them to make some mistakes and that's what happened, especially on that first goal."

Benet (18-1-2) saw its lead slip away after such a fantastic start. Miguel Gallardo netted his 33rd goal of the year before Carter Gearing scored in the 29th minute to make it 2-2.

The Redwings regrouped at halftime and then pulled ahead for good three minutes into the second half when Franklin Rutkowski curved a left-footed shot from 30 yards away just inside the left post.

"Honestly, I didn't pick my head up, which I should have," he said. "All I could think of is the goal and I might as well try to put it in on. I shot it and fortunately for me it was a decent shot."

It was far from the first time that Wesley saw offensive magic from his sophomore.

"He can create in tight spaces," Wesley said. "That's a sophomore letting it go from 30 yards and getting it over a 6-foot-3 goalie. It's crazy."

Rutkowski later gave the Redwings some breathing room in the 55th minute when he took a pass from Jason Rowaiye and once again found the back of the net.

"Jason made a great play and got the ball in the corner," Rutkowski said. "I just tapped it in and luckily it went between the keeper's legs."