Boys soccer: Mundelein tops Warren for another winning moment

Mundelein boys soccer team has been on a quite a roll the last couple of weeks.

Such a path didn't seems likely before then, especially after a couple of tough losses in the Titan Invitational at Glenbrook South.

But since then, everything has changed.

Mundelein used a 3-goal second half to beat North Suburban Conference rival Warren 3-1 in Mundelein on Monday night. It's the Mustangs' fifth straight win overall, and the fourth straight in league play.

Armando Rosiles, Jony Lucio and Jorge Mendoza each scored for the Mustangs (7-3-1 and 4-1).

Warren (7-6-1, 2-2) opened the scoring in the first half in the 21st minute. Credit for the goal went to Dylan Penarrieta after the ball went off a Mustangs defender and into the goal.

Mundelein knew that it needed to regroup in the second half.

"At halftime, and we said it before the game, too - we asked the guys to believe in this: The later a game goes, and if it's tight down the stretch, that will favor us," Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier said. "That's the mentality that we want to build late in games. We're trying our best to have what it takes against teams that are tired. It was just a recommitment to what we talked about. It wasn't anything special. Our boys were just focused."

The Mustangs' Bryan Alba set up the tying goal in the 45th minute with a run up the left side. He eventually lifted a cross to the middle, and Armando Rosiles ran onto it kicked the ball into the back of the net.

"I was telling everyone to keep their heads up," Alba said. "Everyone had their heads down after the (Warren) goal. I was trying to get the team pumped up.

"I saw the run, and I saw the chance for the through ball. So I just got it there."

Lucio scored the game-winning goal, his second of the season, after taking a cross pass on the right side.from Camden Kowalski in the 51st minute.

"Camden made a good run and gave me a great ball," Lucio said. "I was just fortunate to tap it in. Our offense is starting to click together. It's knowing what to do, and working together. We going together as a team."

Mendoza added a late goal in the 80th minute for the Mustangs.

"One thing that's our identity is our boys just show up and play," Billittier said. "It doesn't matter who our opponent is, and it doesn't matter what the situation is most of the time. They're pretty focused on the game and the moment."