The old heave-ho as North routs Central
Naperville North and Naperville Central each have an infinitely dangerous player taking restarts this year in the Huskies' Riley Breese and the Redhawks' Tim Zimmer.
Breese's long throw-ins won the day over Zimmer's big leg in a boys soccer game on Thursday, as four of the Huskies' goals in a 6-1 win were set up by long Breese tosses to the goalmouth.
"The throw-ins killed us," Zimmer said. "We didn't counter those throw-ins, and it cost us. We needed to get more guys in, and they had some great headers in the box."
"That definitely wasn't a 6-1 game. It's not like we're five goals better than them," Breese said. "They're a good team, and we just finished our shots."
Roughly 800 fans, a horde of cheerleaders, and a few Huskies mascots were on hand for the DuPage Valley Conference game at Naperville North. Nary a shot was sent on frame until Breese sent in a bullet of a throw-in at the 11-minute mark, with Tyler Cortez pounding it in off a defender at the far post.
The Huskies had a chance to go up 2-0 in the 26th minute when Andrew Menendez broke in alone on the left side and fired, but charging Redhawks keeper Danny Altosino stuffed the shot.
Menendez was busy all night, however, and his coach applauded his play.
"Andrew Menendez is playing like he should now," said Huskies coach Jim Konrad. "He's just a force on the field. He was awesome tonight."
The Huskies went up 2-0 before halftime on another Breese throw-in in the 25th minute from 25 yards out, with Ediz Yorulmazoglu heading it home from 6 yards out.
The Redhawks had the better of play through the game's first 30-35 minutes, but all they had to show for it was a 2-0 deficit.
"That doesn't matter," said Redhawks coach Jay Konrad. "It doesn't matter who (played) better. They pounded us tonight."
"I was very proud of my back four in figuring out their three forwards," Jim Konrad said of defenders Breese, Jordan Baker, Sean Keuhne and Mike Hogan. "They kept them in front of us all game."
Breese connected with Kyle Green in the 49th minute for a head shot goal before the Redhawks got on the scoreboard when Zimmer bent in a perfect free kick from 18 yards out on the right side.
"Zimmer's free kick was nasty. That was one of the best goals I've ever seen in high school soccer," Jim Konrad said.
The Huskies (9-1-3, 3-0-1) got another goal from Yorulmazoglu, plus goals from Augie Celentano and George Boumitri to bury the Redhawks (9-2-1, 2-1).
"If you lose by 5, at least by the end of the game you're no longer (angry)," Jay Konrad said. "Credit to North. Their kids obviously wanted it more than us."