Dundee-Crown snares crown at Harlem Invite
By going a perfect 5-0 at the Harlem Invitational, Dundee-Crown's girls volleyball team came home with championship honors Saturday.
The Chargers (13-4) defeated Walter Payton Prep School 25-16, 22-25, 25-21, Beloit Memorial 25-9, 25-19, Harlem 25-14, 25-16 and Rolling Meadows 20-25, 25-23, 25-22 in come-from-behind fashion en route to the title contest.
Facing Woodstock in the championship match, D-C opened with a 25-22 win before dropping game two 24-26. The decider came via a 25-21 finale.
All-tournament selections Amanda Lutzow (52 kills, 47 digs, 5 aces) and Kathleen Collingbourne (34 kills, 87 digs, 4 aces) led the Charger attack. D-C also had key contributions from Stephanie Thorsen (34 kills), Alex Thompson (17 blocks) and Katie Cutinello (50 assists).
"The girls played very well," said D-C coach Tracy Williams. "It was a great tournament. We really had to fight for it this year.
"The kids worked very hard. Woodstock was a tough team which made for a great championship game."
Girls volleyball
At Waubonsie Valley Tournament: South Elgin split Saturday morning action at the Waubonsie Valley Tournament to finish 3-2 in tourney action for a seventh-place overall finish among the 16 teams competing. The Storm opened Day 2 competition with a 25-21, 16-25, 25-10 loss to Plainfield South before going on to defeat Hinsdale South by scores of 27-25, 25-18.
South Elgin (6-10) efforts were led by Hayley Bradley (22 kills, 7 digs, 8 aces), Alexa Kruel (18 kills, 18 digs), Tara Bradley (22 kills, 18 digs, 6 aces, 70 assists), Alyssa Krause (24 kills, 7 digs), Christie Cortese (10 kills, 18 digs) and Genevieve Johnson (41 digs).
The Storm opened play Friday night with wins over Glenbard North (26-24, 16-25, 15-10) and Batavia (25-23, 26-24), and a loss to Downers Grove North (25-15, 25-10).
Larkin also participated in the tournament finishing 1-4 with losses to York (25-10, 25-14), Plainfield Central (25-16, 25-16), Neuqua Valley (25-5, 25-9 and St. Ignatius (25-16, 25-11) before closing action with a 25-15, 25-15 victory over Bolingbrook.
Leading the Royal attack for Day 2 were Liza Smithberger (7 assists), Alessandra Castillo (4 assists), Jessica Harris (4 kills, 4 blocks), Jessica Garrity (3 kills, block), Ashley Gazda (6 kills, 9 blocks) and Claire Sherman (9 digs).
Boys soccer
CL South 5, Belvidere 0: Dan Povino got Crystal Lake South (9-7-1) on the board with the lone first half goal of this nonconference victory assisted by Jim Carlson, and in the second half the Gators added 4 more goals.
Scoring second half knocks were Matt Zaluckyj (Carlson assist), Collen Szmutko, Kevin Novak and Ian O'Malley. Carlson added a second assist and additional passing help came from Jordan Innis, Brian Schuda and Jeremy Otten.
In goal, Zach Dalzell preserved the shutout, his seventh of the season with one save.
Dundee-Crown 4, Huntley 1: Dundee-Crown (7-4-1) earned its third consecutive win with this 4-1 nonconference victory over Huntley. Emil Nicoara led the D-C offense with two goals, one assisted by Eddie Bernal who had a goal of his own. Christian Meza also scored for the Chargers.
Niko Carbonara recorded his 17th knock of the season with the lone Huntley goal assisted by Brandon Villareal.
Mike Zozokos guarded the D-C net recording 4 saves while Kevin Montelongo recorded 6 saves in goal for Huntley (6-7).
Westminster Christian 3, Johnsburg 0: Cory Hodge recorded his first 2 goals of the season to lead Westminster Christian (5-6-3) to this nonconference shutout over Johnsburg. Hodge was assisted first by Tyler Beachler and later by Ben Carani. Beachler found the back of the net himself for an insurance goal.
In goal for the Warriors, Ethan Flickinger blocked 6 shots on goal to earn the shutout.
Cary-Grove 3, Lake Forest 2: Cary-Grove (11-2) jumped out to a 2-0 first half lead and held on for this nonconference win over Lake Forest. Andy Martin opened up the scoring off a pass by Conor Keady. Nick McDonald followed assisted by Tyler Cuchna. Lake Forest tied it up in the second half, but Kevin Matovina put the Trojans back on top for good assisted by Calvin Brown.
Keenan Walsh tallied 10 saves in goal for C-G. Defender Andy Roberts stopped a game-tying goal of his own to lead the C-G defense.
"We didn't dominate, but we made the most of our chances," said Trojan coach Mark Olson. "It was a big win for us and a great defensive effort."
Schaumburg 4, Streamwood 0: Missing four starters, Streamwood (7-9-1) trailed just 1-0 at the half, but struggled in the second half en route to this nonconference loss. Juan Ortiz (10 saves) was in goal for the Sabres.
Burlington 3rd at St. Charles East Tournament: An unassisted first half goal from Enrique Alvarado was just enough to give Burlington Central (6-4-2) the 1-0 win over Bartlett for third place honors at the St. Charles East Tournament.
Kyle DeRaedt preserved the shutout and kept the Rockets on top with 8 saves.
Bartlett (6-7-1) finished fourth overall with the loss. Vince DiNuzzo was on goalkeeper duty for the Hawks collecting 8 saves.
Bartlett took roughly 14 shots on goal, but just didn't find the net. DeRaedt crushed their biggest chance stopping a PK.
Girls cross country
At Palatine: Warren's Heather Olson made quite an impression in her first visit to the Palatine Invitational, while the host Pirates made themselves right at home.
Olson hung close to the lead pack in the opening mile then took over just after the second mile cruising to the title on a fast course at Deer Grove East Forest Preserve in 17:16.
Crystal Lake Central's Stephanie Peisker (17:20) took second followed by Barrington's Rebecca Tracy (17:35), Vernon Hill's Danielle Dickman (17:37), and Prospect's Annette White (17:42).
Lyons placed 5 runners in the top 33 in taking first in the 24-team field with 103 points. Host Palatine (121 points) ran an impressive race with 4 runners in the top 27 to take second place followed by Barrington (129 points), Mother McAuley (178 points), and Cary-Grove (199 points).
Madeline Aufman (17:44) took seventh place leading Cary-Grove to fifth place. The senior started out conservatively in the first mile, using an aggressive second mile to make her move.
"I was determined to get a good spot and run this course like it should be run," said Aufman who turned it up a notch in the final stretch. " I'm a half-miler so I used my speed to get up the final hill."
Junior Kelsey Siler (17:54) finished in 14th place leading Dundee-Crown (218 points) to an eighth-place finish.
Prairie Ridge sophomore Alex Ovington (17:45) took ninth place.
At Grant Invitational: Westminster Christian finished 13th at the 9th Annual James J.T. Taylor Invitational hosted by Grant with 312 points. Beth Kautz paced the Warriors with a time of 21:56.86 averaging 7:19 minute miles.
Boys cross country
At Grant Invitational: Zach Holmer represented Westminster Christian well finishing 10th overall at the 9th Annual James J.T. Taylor Invitational hosted by Grant. Holmer finished the race in 16:40.24 for the Top-10 conclusion helping Westminster to a 10th place team finish with 247 points.
Luke Dallmann (18:30.91) finished 44th overall followed by Warrior teammate Eric Berntson (18:33.58) who finished 47th overall.
Elgin Academy's Bruno Del Rio recorded a time of 24:00.38, as the Hilltoppers finished with 364 points.
At Palatine: Prairie Ridge senior Billy TenBush (14:37) took 12th place and senior Connor Kustief (14:52) finished in 22nd place for Dundee-Crown at the Palatine Invitational.
Palatine had 5 runners in the top 31 edging defending state champion York 77-79 to win the team title. The Pirates had never won their own invitational and broke the Dukes string of four consecutive titles.
Women's soccer
Trinity International 1, Judson 0: Trinity International just slipped by the Judson University women's soccer team in CCAC play. TIU scored in the 77th minute for the win. Rebecca O'Donnell had 7 saves for the Eagles (3-3-1, 1-2).
Men's Soccer
Judson 2, Trinity International 0: The Judson University men's soccer team stayed perfect in CCAC play with a win over Trinity International. JU scored both goals in the second half. After a 0-0 tie at the half, senior Mark Howlett scored in the 61st minute to make it 1-0. Then, in the 94th minute, Tim Balasaukas made it 2-0. JU is now 6-3-1 on the year and 2-0 in the CCAC.