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Boys soccer: Benet wins at St. Viator, nets share of ESCC title

Benet Academy's boys soccer team held off St. Viator 2-0 on Friday afternoon in Arlington Heights to ensure itself of an East Suburban Catholic Conference co-championship with Carmel Catholic.

Knowing it had to win against a longtime rival on the road in order to get a piece of league bragging rights, the Redwings (9-6-1, 8-1-0) overcame a shaky first half before putting two into the back of the net after the intermission.

"I think we were way too anxious in that first half, and it showed in the way we played on both sides of the ball," said Benet senior Danny Smith, who struck for the opener to awaken the visitors from its 52nd-minute slumber.

"Yes, it wasn't a very good half of soccer we put forth," said Benet coach Sean Wesley, whose program shared the league crown in 2015 as well. "We conceded three corners and set-pieces in the early going, all of which were dangerous - making that first half-hour in particular a nervous one."

The Lions (5-14-2, 5-2-2) were the better side for long stretches of both halves. That was especially true in the first 40 minutes as St. Viator played with better energy than in a recent 4-0 loss to Carmel Catholic.

"We came out and played hard right from the start - defending well and attacking with a lot more purpose," said St. Viator coach Mike Taylor. "If we had played like this in a few of our other previous games, our overall record would have been much better."

The Lions will open up Class 2A postseason play at Vernon Hills next week against Wauconda.

In the second half on Friday, an Arthur Pach corner led to the first goal, scored by Smith when his teammate. Jason Rowaiye kept the Pach serve alive in the box before the Redwings' center-back steered in a shot from 8 yards.

"Sometimes you have to be in the right place at the right time," Smith said.

Will Hartman, Zaul Perez, Miguel Reyes and Brady Mulligan did their best to get the Lions back even. But Benet's Smith, Collin Dannheim and their defending teammates kept St. Viator from putting anything of quality at keeper Brian Gould.

Rowaiye doubled the visitors' advantage in the 68th minute when he elevated above everyone else to thump an unchallenged header past David Petrovich.

"That first goal we gave up was not a good one - the second was well-deserved, and that was the story of this game," said Taylor.

"When you look at where we were at 1-6-0," said Wesley, "and then fast-forward to today, the guys have done a great job of turning things around in order to come away with an ESCC trophy, and that's something they should all be proud of."

The Redwings will play St. Charles East next Tuesday in a Class 3A regional semifinal contest at host St. Charles North.

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