Perfect start for Privett, Grayslake C.

Freshman Bobby Privett was born in October and explained that's why he was wearing jersey No. 10 when Grayslake Central's soccer team opened its season Tuesday night on its new artificial-turf field.

Understand that freshmen normally don't wear such a popular number.

Privett backed it up, however, scoring the game-winning goal in the Rams' 2-0 nonconference win over visiting Antioch.

"A great player wore this (number) last year," said Privett, alluding to Nolan Sandberg, who graduated. Former Rams star Bobby Reed also sported No. 10.

"I just had to keep the tradition going."

Funny thing is, Privett got the number because nobody else wanted it.

"When Bobby picked No. 10, it was the last pick," Grayslake Central coach Mike McCaulou said. "It's usually all on seniority, but no one else picked it."

Privett opened the scoring in the 14th minute, drilling in a header off a Ryan Williams cross.

"He has some big shoes to fill," McCaulou said of Privett. "He came out here and scored a great, powerful header. Bobby is young, but if he continues to work at it, he's got the potential to be that type of player."

"We practice headers almost every practice and before games," said Privett, who stands just 5-feet-5. "I was ready for it and the ball coming in was just perfect. It's pretty special for a freshman to score in a varsity game and it was also the first game of the season."

Three minutes later, Grayslake Central senior Michael Davis took a lofted ball from Brad Martinez, beat Antioch keeper Steven Grimm to the ball and scored.

Rams junior keeper Nick Sloan earned the shutout by making 6 saves, including a couple from close range.

"You can't ask for a better start with a shutout, on the new turf field and being the first (game)," McCaulou. "There's a home-field advantage because of the speed and length of the field. It should be an advantage for us."

In its season opener, Antioch took away some positives.

"For the first game, I liked everything about it," Antioch coach Jorge Anduray said. "We're young, but with the effort we showed out there, I can see only improvement. We're still getting in shape and still happy with the results.

"We didn't capitalize in the beginning, but I expect it to come."

Mundelein 2, McHenry 2: Eric Flores scored twice in the final 20 minutes, as the Mustangs rallied for a tie in their season opener.

Keeper Eric Sorby made 7 saves, including one on a breakaway late in the game.

"We played better in the second half, and in the last 20 minutes we played our best soccer," Mundelein coach Dave Ekstrom said.