Defense working wonders for Redhawks
Naperville Central holds a 9-2-1 record, and central defenders Joe Sawa and Tim Zimmer have served as the heart of a Redhawks' defense that has posted 6 shutouts and given up 14 goals in 12 games, while playing one of the toughest schedules around.
Six of those goals, however, came in Thursday's loss to rival Naperville North.
Now in his third year as a varsity starter, Zimmer's play can sometimes be taken for granted. The junior's value in back became obvious, however, when he sat out the second half of the Redhawks 3-2 win over West Chicago due to a muscle strain.
"Whoa, what a difference that made," said Redhawks coach Jay Konrad, who also applauded Sawa's leadership in back.
"Sawa's done a great job all year of keeping us organized in the back and reducing the number of chances the other team has," Konrad said. "He's been an unsung hero for us."
The Redhawks will have the second seed in the Class AA Neuqua Valley sectional behind the host Wildcats. Naperville North is third, followed by Benet.
Throw it long:ŒNaperville North's Riley Breese and Glenbard West's Brian Emanuel have two of the longest throw-ins fans anywhere will see this year. Both can toss it to the far post from long range, and in a recent game between the Hilltoppers and Glenbard North on the Panthers' thin home field, Emanuel's throw-in became a thorn in the Panthers' side.
"At some point in the game, it became annoying," said Panthers coach Greg Chrisman. "He was getting it to the far post from 35 yards out.
"When someone has a throw like that, it makes you think twice about kicking it out anywhere up to midfield."
Breese made Naperville Central pay for just that mistake Thursday when the junior had a game for the ages in earning 4 assists on throw-ins to the goalmouth in a 6-1 Huskies' win.
"I use my back, try to stay on my back leg, and just try to get the ball in there," said Breese, who now has 11 assists on throw-ins this season.
Tigers in title game:ŒYet another tie unfolded in the annual DuPage Valley Conference game between rivals Wheaton Warrenville South and Wheaton North this year, with the Tigers and Falcons playing to a 2-2 draw on the Falcons' home field.
It marked the third time in the last four years the cross-town teams have tied during the regular season. Wheaton North earned a 1-0 victory in last year's meeting, leaving the seniors on WW South's team without a regular-season win over their sister school in their high school careers.
"It's definitely frustrating," said Tigers senior Eric Shrigley. "It was my last chance to beat them here."
Shrigley's spirits were likely lifted in the week of play following the tie with the Falcons, as his squad beat Sandburg four days later to reach Sunday's title game of the 39-team Pepsi Showdown.
The title game will kick off at 4:30 p.m. at Toyota Park in Bridgeview -- the home stadium of the Chicago Fire. Wheaton Warrenville South (9-2) is the top seed in the tournament, and they'll square off with sixth-seeded Lincoln-Way Central after the Fire takes on D.C. United at 2 p.m.
The Tigers won the Pepsi Showdown in 2004 and 2005, and reached the semifinals in last year's tournament.
Wildcats tough in back:ŒNeuqua Valley remained unbeaten at 8-0-1 with Tuesday's 2-0 win over St. Charles North, as Asa Carson, Bo Miller, Robby Gargaro and Tanner Fink have developed into one cohesive and miserly back line of defense. Wildcats assistant coach Dan DiMarco is in charge of the defense, and his approach to the Neuqua Valley back line starts with one simple idea.
"He's always taking our best players and putting them back there," said Wildcats coach Jim Johns.