High-scoring Carmel blasts past Benet

Ever since coach John Halloran took over the Carmel boys soccer program four years ago, there's been one team standing in the Corsairs' way.

That team has been Benet Academy. The meetings under Halloran's watch frequently end in a tie or a loss for the Corsairs.

But on Saturday morning, Carmel changed its tune and shut out Benet Academy 3-0 in an East Suburban Catholic Conference game in Mundelein.

"To get a win over a team like Benet is a real accomplishment," Halloran said. "They're quality year after year. It's been an evenly matched rivalry between both teams. Henry (Wind) runs a real class program and is fun to play against -- it's a friendly rivalry."

Carmel moves to 11-4-2 overall and 5-1 in the ESCC, while Benet Academy falls to 5-8 and 4-3 in league play.

"It was a real nice win for us," Halloran said. "Our speed of play was probably our best all season. We've still got a half-step of improvement going into next week and the week after, before the playoffs."

Offensively, the Corsairs have picked up their game of late. They followed a 5-0 thumping of Notre Dame on Wednesday and three more tallies against Benet.

Corsairs senior Ricky Kolb scored the opening goal in the 25th minute on a header courtesy of an Edwin Lagunas free kick.

"Edwin Lagunas played a nice ball to the back post," Kolb said. "I just got the touch and put it in. It all comes through with tenacity getting to the ball."

Lagunas scored his 14th goal of the season in the 71st minute. He took a pass from Bobby Gas and fired a 25-yard strike for a 2-0 Carmel lead.

Senior John Zeffery added an insurance goal off a Kurt Houghton throw-in with a couple of minutes remaining.

Carmel keeper Joe Ferrari earned his third straight shutout and eighth of the season making after 5 saves against Benet.

"It's seems like everybody is making history on us this year," Benet coach Henry Wind said. "We need to play with more energy and fire. We do have a lot of guys hurt. Once a team scores on us, the game is over, because we don't score."