Boys soccer: Benet doesn't get the bounces

Sometimes the ball just doesn't bounce your way.

Benet was the victim of such misfortune during the Class 2A boys soccer semifinals on Friday afternoon against Latin in Hoffman Estates.

Already playing at a disadvantage with its best defender, Bennett Curtis, only on the field for a limited time in the first half due to a broken foot, Benet surrendered a goal late in the first overtime while he was sidelined and the Romans then held on for a 1-0 double-overtime victory.

Benet (20-2-2) suffered its first loss since a 3-0 decision against Fremd in late August. It was also just the second time the Redwings have been shut out this fall.

"We were 0-0 against a very good team and our all-state center back is no longer there and this is a kid we relied on the entire year and who never comes off the field," Benet coach Sean Wesley said. "I think they had the better run of play for the first 7-10 minutes and I thought we dominated for the next 60 minutes and then they had a stretch there of playing reasonably well."

Latin (23-3-0) scored in the final minute of the first overtime after more than 80 minutes of play when neither team had many great chances, although Franklin Rutkowski had one the better ones for Benet, but Latin denied it. That left both teams with a chance to deliver the go-ahead goal, but only Latin pounced on such an opportunity.

Jon Schuler maintained possession despite going down to the turf as the ball basically bounced right back up to him after he had almost lost it. He kept his composure though and sent it to a streaking Ike Baldwin, who placed it perfectly into the net in the 89th minute.

"I've been playing with Jon basically since we've been 4 (years old) so I know he's never going to give up," Baldwin said. "I kept running and he stayed with the ball. I called for it and put it in the back of the net."

The Redwings suddenly found themselves trailing for the first time in the postseason since the regional title game against Kaneland, and with time running out, they never found a way to answer.

"As a coach I can live with it this off-season the fact that we gave up a goal because three guys were 100 percent committed to not letting the guy score," Wesley said. "And the ball just bounces the wrong way. But we should credit them because no one has kept us from scoring, but it was one of those games where we couldn't find a way to get one in."

Benet had 11 shots, including eight that were on frame, but they just came up a little short.

The Redwings will look to regroup on Saturday against Jacksonville (21-5) in the third-place match.

"We played a good game. We had a few chances up top, but they got lucky. I think for the most part we had the majority of possession and majority of shots," Benet senior Charlie Kane said. "To get this far and accomplish so much, we may have gotten unlucky today, but still a third-place trophy is a big trophy."