Cary-Grove claims St. Edward crown; Elgin 2nd
Although only one goal was scored in the boys soccer match between Cary-Grove and Huntley Saturday, there was plenty of action throughout the game to keep most entertained. In the first half alone, there were three yellow cards handed out and there was even a scuffle between the two teams.
When the dust finally settled, the Trojans (4-0) held onto their 1-0 advantage and came away with the victory and the championship of the St. Edward tournament.
"The first half was just physical and we had a hard time adjusting to the physical game," Cary-Grove coach Mark Olson said. "Once we were able to have the halftime to go ahead and collect our heads and say to play the way we need to play, we did a much better job of just playing soccer. It was real important to come out the way we did."
After no goals were scored in the first half, the Trojans scored just a 1:07 into the second half. Huntley goalkeeper Kevin Montelongo (10 saves) made the initial save on a shot, but after failing to secure the ball, Kevin Matovina was able to kick the lose ball into the net.
Continuing to finish the play is something that Olson has preached throughout the season and it has definitely paid off so far.
"We have been working hard as a team all year," Matovina said. "So it was really good to see that the stuff coach tells us actually gets put into a game. This was a great feeling because both teams played really hard and we came out on top."
Even though Montelongo made a mistake that cost the Red Raiders the game, Huntley (2-2) has confidence that its 6-foot-4 freshman goalkeeper will excel, especially as the season progresses.
"(Montelongo) is a freshman and he is learning," Red Raiders' coach Kris Grabner said. "The nice thing is that he listens really well and pays really close attention. Ultimately I think by the end of this year he will be the dominant keeper in the area."
Boys soccer
Elgin wins two at St. Edward Tournament: Elgin (6-1) picked up two additional wins before concluding play at the St. Edward Tournament which was good enough for a second-place trophy.
The Maroons opened up with a 3-2 win over Westminster Christian (1-4) with goals from Lucas Valencia, Hugo Antunez (PK) and Omar Jasso (unassisted). Jasso also assisted Valencia's opening goal. Nikil Satish defended the Elgin net collecting 5 saves.
In Game 2, Elgin shut out tournament host St. Edward (0-4) 4-0. Valencia recorded two more goals assisted by Joe Perez twice, and Perez scored an unassisted knock of his own. Jasso scored the final goal with a pass from Jasinto Catalan. Satish tallied 7 saves.
Burlington Central 3, Genoa-Kingston 2: In the third-place match of the Burlington Central Tournament, the Rockets walked away with the 3-2 win. Enrique Alvarado opened up the scoring on a dish from Mike McCurdy. Ryan Reopelle scored the final two BC goals, both assisted by Jordan Werrbach.
Kyle DeRaedt defended the net for the Rockets tallying 7 saves.
Hampshire 6, Rockford Christian 0: Hampshire (6-0-1) continued to roll recording this 6-0 nonconference shutout over Rockford Chrisian. In goal for the scoreless end was Cameron Rath, who tallied 7 saves.
Junior Makinde led the offense with a hat trick, his second of the season. Assisting Makinde's goals were Shay Hauck and Jose Lopez. Tyler Zirk scored his first of the season assisted by Phil Bracke, while Tommy Gilbert (Hauck) and Lopez (Makinde) added two more knocks.
CL South 1, Rolling Meadows 0: Crystal Lake South remained unbeaten in 2007 at 4-0-1 after this 1-0 nonconference shutout. Matt Zaluckyj scored the lone goal of the game during the first half of play assisted by Jim Carlson. In goal, Zach Dalzell collected 3 saves to preserve the shutout.
Girls tennis
Jacobs at Fremd Invite: With 32 points, Jacobs earned a fifth-place finish among eight teams competing at the Fremd Invitational. Fenwick won the event with 41 points. Conant (39) finished second and St. Charles East third with 38 points.
Jen Ruther led the Golden Eagles earning herself first place honors at No. 2 singles.
Girls volleyball
St. Francis wins Early Out title: Wheaton St Francis' acclaimed girls volleyball program came into the Early Bird Classic as the heavy favorite this weekend.
The defending Class AA state champ and No. 1 team in the Daily Herald Top 20 did little to harm its reputation by winning the championship with a 25-21, 22-25, 25-22 victory over St. Charles East at Fremd High School in Palatine on Saturday.
With Kelsey Robinson at the service line, Megan Barnicle put down the match-winning kill to the middle of the floor, sending the Spartans to a perfect 7-0 record this fall and 5-0 in the tourney.
Barnicle collected 5 block kills in the match while Meghan Matusiak led the champs with 13 kills.
The offense as usual was directed superbly by setter Michelle Kocher, who dished out 37 assists while Kelsey Vorgert notched 10 service points and an ace. Teammate Catherine Culligan helped key the defense with 9 digs.
"I'm extremely pleased with this win," said Spartans coach Peg Kopec. "St. Charles is a very good defensive team. They serve well and aggressively, and they have a nice offense."
The Saints' offense was led by senior Mattie Boyd (10 kills), while sophomore Caroline Niski and senior Courtney Sjostrom each had 4. Junior setter Laura Homann handed out 22 assists and served 3 aces. Senior teammate Julia Marks collected 5 aces.
"They (St. Francis) always have a competitive team," said Saints coach Jennie Kull, whose team is now 6-1. "We're very young, so to play teams of this caliber in a tournament so early is a real bonus and highlight for us because these kids know what they have now for the rest of the season."
Homann, Boyd and the defensive specialists are the only Saints in their same positions from last fall.
"We have so many young kids," Kull said. "To see them playing at such a high level against a team like St. Francis is a great way to start the season."
Kopec expounded on the character she saw from her squad, which posted a 25-20, 25-5, victory over Schaumburg (4-2) in the semifinals Saturday.
"With as much diversity as we have on our team with older and younger players, the kids showed a lot of heart," Kopec said. "I think they showed what they're made of and this was pretty much of a team effort."
St. Charles East advanced to the title match with a 25-18, 25-22 victory over Milwaukee Pius XI (14-2) in the semifinals.
-- John Leusch
Football
St. Viator 49, St. Francis 21: There was no letdown for St. Viator.
Coming off a victory over cross-town rival Hersey, the Lions went to Benedictine University in Lisle on Saturday afternoon to play St. Francis.
Viator (2-0) scored on its first five possessions and cruised to a 49-28 nonconference victory.
St. Viator quarterback Eric Huber ran for an 11-yard TD on the Lions' opening possession and added one more score on the ground and two through the air as the visitors pounded away at the Spartans (1-1) with a great effort by the offensive line.
"We ran the ball a ton and the line played great," said Huber, who gained 75 yards on 9 runs and also passed for 154 yards, including a 64-yard score to Richard McLoughlin for a 21-0 lead at the start of the second quarter. "It's really a boost when you shut them down and score your first three times.
"It gets their morale down and it got us pumped up."
Spartans coach Greg Purnell didn't like the way his team played in the first half, which ended with St. Viator on top 35-7.
"We did not come ready to play," the first-year St. Francis coach said after suffering his first defeat. "I'll take the responsibility for that. We've got a lot of work to do and we've got to create some depth."
With the Lions' offensive line leading the way, Mike Landuyt ran through the Spartans defense for 152 yards and three scores and also hauled in a 15-yard TD pass from Huber in the second quarter.
"Our line played well. That's where it starts and ends," Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick said. "But I thought our first team defense played well. They gave up just one score and it was a missed tackle."
Trailing 28-0, the Spartans got on the board on the first of Stan Bobowski's touchdowns runs, a 2-yard dive.
Mark Kachmer and Bobowski had big second halves after the Lions began resting some of their defensive players with a big lead on the hot day. Bobowski, whose father Stan starred at St. Viator in the early 1970s, finished with 99 yards rushing, including a 55-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
"We all played really hard," Bobowski said. "We just need to work harder."
-- Stan Goff
AAU basketball
Illinois Magic 2nd at Nike: The Illinois Magic 17U AAU basketball team took second place overall in the Silver Division at the Nike Main Event in Las Vegas played in late July.
En route to the No. 2 slot, the Illinois Magic faced Team Santa Cruz, the Bay Area Ballers, SBA Rebels and the Houston Pride before losing to a tough Tulsa Titans roster in the championship contest.
Perhaps the most impressive win came versus Basketball British Columbia which drew 30 plus Division I coaches.
The Illinois Magic 17U AAU team is based out of Crystal Lake and is a member of the Amateur Athletic Association.
Team members include Brandon Hayes (DeKalb), Brett Manning (St. Edward), George Waddell (Belvidere), Jon Umoren (DeKalb), Keenen Knowles (Rockford Auburn), Mike Ungari (Prairie Ridge), Nate Gillette (Hononegah), Troy Appelhans (Marengo) and Stephon Valentine (Boylan). Don Tumilson from Island Lake coached the team.
Men's soccer
Judson 3, Cornerstone University 0: With two first-half goals, Judson (3-0-1) took an early lead and never looked back recording this nonconference shutout over Cornerstone University.
Leonardo Silva led the Eagles' offense with 2 goals, one assisted by Petar Bajic. Milos Bajic scored the final goal of the game assisted by Silva. Neal Thompson tallied 4 saves in goal to preserve the shutout.