Boys soccer: Pallan's kick lifts Barrington past Libertyville

Barrington's boys soccer team recorded its most important victory of the season by topping Libertyville 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Grant Blaney Stadium to capture the Buffalo Grove sectional title.

With that giant step, the Broncos are much closer to reaching the Clas 3A state finals next weekend.

For the 15th time this season, Klaus Pallan provided the game-winner for his team. He he steered in his spot kick at 42 minutes to settle a well-played, hard-fought 80-minute match in favor of the Broncos.

Barrington next meets Evanston (19-1-4) in Tuesday's supersectional at Barrington Community Stadium.

"Libertyville was such a good team, and those two guys up top (Ryan Wittenbrink and Evan Rasmussen) were really dangerous players," said Broncos coach Scott Steib. "But as we have against some of our top opponents in the MSL, and lately here in the playoffs, we find a way to weather an early storm - maybe tempt fate a little bit, yet still come away with the result we need."

"It was a tough, tight soccer match played by two great teams, which could have gone either way for sure," said Libertyville coach Andy Bitta. "We played very well in the first half, but we didn't respond with any urgency after (Pallan) converted the PK, and after that, I felt they had the better of things the rest of the second half."

The defending 3A state champion Wildcats (15-4-0) were sharp in the first half, creating more chances and opportunities from dead-ball chances than through the run of play. And if not for some timely blocks and a key save or two from keeper Alex Ruffolo, Bitta's men might have scored first.

"We could have been much better on their long throws and corners they had, but we tightened things up in the second half when we had to," said Pallan who joined his teammate Gio Guarnero as well as Libertyville senior Kenny Gallagher in turning in wonderful performances on both sides of the ball.

"Gio was brilliant out there today, and since the start of the postseason, he has just been fantastic, playing a key role in our success," said Steib.

While the dynamic Wittenbrink and Rasmussen were a constant threat, the long throws from Ryan Gibbs proved even more unnerving for Barrington, which held its breathe each time the senior unloaded from the touchline.

In the seventh minute, Ruffolo somehow got a glove on a Gibbs toss - enough to send it off the back post, allowing the Broncos' defense to send the ball over the end line.

Another Gibbs throw-in created a corner. Daniel Marks' redirected header looked to be heading for the far post, and only a late challenge from Kai Sebens sent the effort over the bar.

The best chance of the period for the Broncos (21-3-0) came when Pallan set Michael Blanke free up the right side. That opportunity ended with the sophomore driving his angled shot wide of the back post.

"They were better than us in that first half," said Pallan, "and after the PK I think we all were ready for them to really come at us with numbers and a lot of energy. But instead, I thought they hung their heads a little bit while we played so well in the midfield and along the back to help us stay in control of the game."

Caleb Orr, who found the equalizer in the Broncos 3-1 regional final against Stevenson, then the game-winner over Mundelein earlier in the week, was at it again. His aggressive run and carry into the box saw him being brought down, which sent Pallan to the spot as the big striker scored his 28th goal of the season.

Shortly thereafter, Bitta and his staff paired Wittenbrink and Rasmussen together up top, after each had taken turns playing the withdrawn forward role. And after Kyle Owen went close, and Cats defender Michael Quigley blocked a Jordan Fermin attempt near the spot, the Wildcats went with a 3-4-3 formation for the final 20 minutes of regulation.

The Broncos maintained possession during the last quarter-hour, with Guarnero and teammate Zach Carbonara doing most of the work. Barrington's back line of Nash Pirie, John Gadbois, Hudson Walsh and Josh Coulter stayed composed despite a nervous last few minutes when the Wildcats went searching for the equalizer.

"We knew that they had two great forwards, and that they were very fast and athletic," Guarnero said, "so it was important that our defense played well today - and they did."