Boys soccer: St. Charles North stymies Batavia

While the Upstate Eight Conference River Division boys soccer title was not in the offing, St. Charles North still treated Tuesday's Tri-Cities Night clash with Batavia seriously.

The North Stars (11-2-4, 3-1-2) tuned up for the start of postseason play next week with a 2-0 victory over the Bulldogs (5-12-2, 1-4-1) on a soggy, wind-blown fall evening in St. Charles.

Although Elgin and Streamwood played for conference bragging rights Tuesday night, plenty of neighborhood pride was at stake at St. Charles North.

"This game didn't mean much for the conference standings but it meant a lot for us getting ready for the playoffs," said North Stars junior forward Matt Beaulieu, whose team begins Class 3A regional semifinal action at home against either Hoffman Estates or Willowbrook on Oct. 17. "We've got to get on the right track and this was the best way to do it."

Beaulieu accounted for both of the North Stars' goals - the first coming in the 26th minute when he cleaned up on a rebound attempt from point-blank range.

Jake Persenico sent a crossing pass in front of the Batavia net to Bernard Elegbede, whose shot caromed off the crossbar right on the waiting foot of Beaulieu for a 1-0 lead.

"My teammates brought everything to me - I've got to give it to them," said Beaulieu. "We just played good together and got the win."

Beaulieu added a little breathing room when he delivered a left-footed free kick just inside the far post from 18 yards out, extending North's lead to 2-0 with 11:12 remaining.

"I practice it all the time and it pays off," said Beaulieu.

Senior goalkeeper Piercarlo Ricossa made 5 saves in the shutout effort as the North Stars snapped out of their mini late-season lull.

"I think we were a little too confident in ourselves," said Beaulieu. "We didn't take our opponents too seriously. Even against our biggest rivals, I feel like we were a little too confident."

Senior goalkeeper Treven Ritko-Siros kept the Bulldogs close with 7 saves.

"We're competing - that's all you can ask of the boys," said Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco. "We're right there with them. It has been that way all year. We're battling."

Both teams agreed to call the game due to lightning with 4 minutes remaining.

"If it's 1-0, we might wait it out but at 2-0 there's no point," said Gianfrancesco. "We're starting (postseason play) Friday so we've got to get ready to go."

Batavia opens regional quarterfinal play Friday against Plainfield East in Plainfield.