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Boys soccer: Another winning postseason effort from Vernon Hills

Teamwork and strength of schedule are a couple of important factors behind success for the Vernon Hills boys soccer team.

The Cougars' ability to go deep in the state tournament has turned into annual event. They scored twice in a three-minute span in the second half and skipped past Rockford Boylan 2-0 in the Class 2A Grayslake North sectional semifinals on Wednesday night.

Vernon Hills (14-8), which got goals from Stephen Auw and Anakin Ruiz, will next play Belvidere (18-5) in the sectional final at 5 p.m. Saturday.

"This is what you play for," Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou said. "You prepare your schedule a year in advance to get very difficult games. It prepared us for the playoffs and a very difficult sectional. When you play a schedule we play, there's nothing that's going to shock you."

Part of the Cougars' preparation was playing 15 of their 19 regular-season matches against Class 3A teams. They also played in the competitive Central Suburban League for the first time.

The Cougars had to overcome rain and windy against NIC 10 champion Rockford Boylan (17-3-1).

"We really didn't play our style," McCaulou said. "When we got the first goal, it set us sky-high. Then we played smart soccer and kept it compact and behind the ball. It was a great team win."

Auw opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, knocking in a volley after a Cole Guillaume serve.

"The goal was huge not for me, but for the whole team," Auw said. "The rain was coming down all night. The field was slick. A lot of players were missing the ball because they were misjudging it. (On the goal), I was hoping the (defender) would misjudge it. He did and it went right by him. I just got myself into a position so I could finish it."

Three minutes later, Ruiz played a ball short off a corner kick from Steven Tow. Tow gave the ball back to Ruiz, who beat a defender and curled in a shot.

That was more than enough for the Cougars and keeper Brennan Reback, who earned the clean sheet with 7 saves.

"It was a quicker game and we've played on (turf) enough," Boylan coach Chris Mera said. "I believe we're a better team on it. We just didn't show it today and I'm not sure what it was. Normally, we're connecting passes and trying to build an attack. Vernon Hills has some quick offensive players and put us on our heels a little bit. I thought the better team won."

  Vernon Hills' Cole Guillaume, left, and Rockford Boylan's Michael Kozlowski leap for a header during the Class 2A boys soccer sectional semifinals at Grayslake North on Wednesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Vernon Hills' Ryan Kim, left, and Rockford Boylan's Joe Battel pursue the ball during the Class 2A boys soccer sectional semifinals at Grayslake North on Wednesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Vernon Hills' Andrew Kim, left, and Rockford Boylan's Joe Battel leap for a header during the Class 2A boys soccer sectional semifinals at Grayslake North on Wednesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Vernon Hills goalkeeper Brennan Reback scoops up the ball during the Class 2A boys soccer sectional semifinals against Rockford Boylan at Grayslake North on Wednesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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