Happy birthday for Devils coach
Warren boys soccer coach Jim McNamara received an extra gift for his birthday Saturday.
A victory.
Blue Devils senior Mike Osmera delivered it.
Osmera scored 15 seconds into the second overtime to give Warren a 3-2 victory over Plainfield Central in quarterfinals of the Pepsi Showdown at the Lyons Soccer Complex.
Libertyville lost its opportunity to reach the semifinals with a 3-0 loss to Lincoln-Way Central (7-1-1). Lake Zurich notched a 3-0 shutout over Downers Grove North in a consolation game.
Second-seeded Warren (4-4-2) will meet No. 6 Lincoln-Way Central in the semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m. at Lyons. The other semifinal will feature top-seeded Wheaton Warrenville South vs. No. 13 Sandburg at 2 p.m.
Warren's players needed to work extra hard to give their coach his birthday gift.
"It was a nice one," McNamara said. "We were kind of heartless in the first half and didn't play with any emotion or energy. At halftime I mentioned to them to play with a little bit of heart and with our head, and control with our heart. Then we reiterated it after the first overtime.
"The kids don't understand what we're doing, but they're learning to control their emotions, and they're playing a high-level soccer."
Osmera played defense in the first half, then sat the bench the entire second half. When called on in OT, he made the most of his opportunity. On the winner, he made a hustling play to redirect Drew Liogas' cross across the goal line.
"I just dived for it and got my foot on it," Osmera said. "The whole game I wanted to get in there and prove myself."
The Blue Devils forced overtime when Ivan Carranza took a pass from Liogas and blasted in a 25-yard shot in the 75th minute.
Warren's other goal was from Liogas off an assist from Nick Sanchez in the first half.
Plainfield Central (4-2) got its goals from Al Palar.
"We're not making any excuses," Plainfield Central coach Kevin Fitzgerald said. "Warren is a good team and we all know about Warren's reputation after what they did last year (advanced to state). We think we can beat anybody."
Unseeded Libertyville (3-1) lost its first game of the season against a tough Lincoln-Way Central squad. The Wildcats gave up 3 goals during a six-minute span in the second half and fell 3-0.
"We were a little starstruck today and just couldn't do it," Libertyville coach Andy Bitta said. "Lincoln-Way Central is a very good team and we didn't play one of our best games. Give them credit. They finished and we didn't.
"We're a young team and we can't play perfect every time."
Lincoln-Way Central's Phil Galounis scored his 13th goal and added an assist. Dean Wern and Jason Obermeier knocked in the other goals. Matt Ducci had a pair of assists.
Libertyville keeper Jason Palac made 5 saves, including one on a penalty kick.
"Libertyville is a good team and their goalkeeper made some outstanding saves," Lincoln-Way Central coach Dan Radz said. "I thought they were a fine team and belonged here. I can see them beating good quality teams."
Lake Zurich (4-3-2) got second-half goals from Matt Steffens, Nick Janus and Andy Lynch in its shutout of Downers Grove North. Lake Zurich keeper Mike Messmer made 3 saves.