Early scores help Elgin down Storm for BC tourney title

Move over Larkin, there might just be a new rival in town.

When Elgin and South Elgin took the field for the title match of the Burlington Central boys soccer tournament Friday, it certainly appeared that way.

While players from both sides were friendly off the field before and after the game, game time rendered the intensity, the no-quit attitude and the physical play to match that of rival capacity.

The end result was a 3-2 victory in favor of Elgin, which earned its first trophy of the year just four games into the season.

The Maroons (3-1) wasted no time at all getting ahead as Kevin Rodriguez scored within the first five minutes of play on a dish from Hugo Aranda.

"Scoring early was huge for us," said Elgin sweeper Roberto Quintana. "Usually, when we can do that we get motivated and stay strong for the remainder of the game."

Later in the first half, forward Lucas Valencia was tripped up by South Elgin goalkeeper Luis Abonce (12 saves) in the box resulting in a penalty kick.

Aranda blasted the PK past Abonce giving the Maroons a 2-0 halftime lead.

While time of possession was evenly matched throughout the first half, South Elgin (2-2) was unable to finish.

"We've been starting off slow," said Storm coach Mark Neville. "Elgin is a good team, and they will take advantage of that. And they did."

A halftime threat to practice Saturday, and some second half changes put the Storm right back in it before the conclusion.

The back end kicked off with an exchange of yellow cards, three for each team to be exact, and later a red card for Elgin's Joel Perez.

Post red-card, South Elgin threatened when a James Hollander breakaway pulled Elgin keeper Nikil Satish (13 saves) out of the net. Hollander fired off a shot, but Elgin stopper Kevin Rodriguez came flying off the left side diving in front of the ball and deflecting it out.

"Our defense really stepped it up for us," said Valencia. "Defense has been a weakness for us, and now I can say that it has become one of our strengths."

Shortly after the deflection, Elgin went ahead 3-0 when Pedro Rodriguez connected off a perfect feed from Omar Dina.

With 15 minutes left, South Elgin raised the bar a level. Jake Shibona found Bartosz Mazurek open on the left side. Mazurek's shot sailed off the right post and into the net.

Shibona later tagged an unassisted goal of his own to make it 3-2 with 8 minutes left to play.

The Storm continued to barrage Elgin with scoring efforts up until the final seconds, but just couldn't connect.

"South Elgin was tough," said Valencia. "Their speed and their ability to keep the ball down made it difficult. And they didn't quit."

Said Elgin coach Dave Borg: "An early title is great for us. Being in the Upstate Eight Conference, we cherish every early win we can get.

"South Elgin is very well coached and they did not quit."