Redhawks claim DVC title
Naperville Central's rudeness knew no limits on Tuesday night.
In a boys soccer game that decided the DuPage Valley Conference crown, the Redhawks crashed Wheaton Warrenville South's senior night party by taking a 3-0 lead before halftime in a 3-2 win.
"We gave them too much room, didn't want to engage in the 50-50s, and they just picked us apart," said Tigers coach Guy Callipari.
The win gave Naperville Central (15-3-3, 6-1) its first conference title in boys soccer since 1999.
"We played amazingly well in the first half an hour," said Redhawks junior Tim Zimmer. "We came out very tough and very aggressive, and I think we caught them off guard a little bit."
"That was probably the best 30 minutes of soccer we've played this year," said Redhawks coach Jay Konrad. "And against an opponent like Wheaton South, that's saying something."
The Redhawks' Matt Sterner started the ball rolling downhill in the sixth minute, taking a feed from Joe Wehrli and scoring his sixth goal from 16 yards out. Tigers goalkeeper Randall Babb dove and got a hand on the shot, but it dribbled past him inside the post.
Sterner busted up the right side on the dribble in the 26th minute and slotted a diagonal pass back to Tom Sheehy, who scored from 13 yards out, and the Redhawks went up 3-0 when Jerry Maddi scored from 23 yards on a Byard Ebling assist in the 29th minute.
Playing quick to feet, making good runs and winning every 50-50 ball, the Redhawks' effort had the Tigers (16-3-3, 4-1-2) defending from the start.
"They don't have the prolific impact player like some other teams might have, but it's a working team," Callipari said. "And if you don't match that ethic, you'll find yourself on your heels."
Play evened out thereafter, and the Tigers spent considerably more time in their attacking third in the second half. Eric Shrigley headed a Scott Larson corner kick over to Andrew Bellmer, who scored near the far post in the 48th minute, and Tommy Barlow scored in the game's final minute to finish the night's scoring.
"In the second half we got the wind, started pressing up, and felt the urgency," said Tigers senior Scott Larson. "Everyone stepped up and tried to bring it back, but we just couldn't quite get there."
The Redhawks' win stopped the Tigers' 16-game unbeaten streak, while giving Konrad his first DVC title as a head coach in the process.
"To get thumped 6-1 by Naperville North (on Sept. 20) and then still battle back and take care of business, and win the DVC is quite a feat," Konrad said.
"The kids are playing well, and they knew that they had a task tonight."
-- Gary Larsen
Larkin 2, St. Charles North 1:ŒLooking at the Upstate Eight Conference standings, Larkin might not have exactly entered Tuesday night's match against St. Charles North with seniority, but the Royals certainly left with it.
After seniors Steven Drew and David Rodriguez each found the back of the net for the Royals, it became evident that there was no better way to commemorate senior night at Memorial Field than a 2-1 win over the North Stars.
And it would not come easy, especially playing without leading scorer Raul Sandoval, who tightened up and could not take the field for Larkin.
St. Charles North came out strong attacking the Royals net almost immediately.
With 18 minutes left to play in the first half, the only thing standing between the North Stars and a goal was Larkin's goalkeeper, Raziel Somarriba, who made a diving save. Somarriba got the ball in mid-air and after colliding with the ground he lost it, but managed to pull it back in to prevent any damage.
Somarriba made another big save with 15 minutes left in the half before surrendering a goal to North midfielder Dominic Catalono. Defender Jake Hosler connected with Catalono in front of the net, and his header found its way over the hands of a reaching Somarriba and into the upper left to give St. Charles North a 1-0 lead.
"That first goal caught me off-guard," said Somarriba.
Larkin got that goal back with three minutes left to play in the first after a perfect pass from Fernando Alverez would result in a Rodriguez breakaway. Rodriguez beat his defenders from about 15-yards out, and a solid strike would bounce off of North Star goalkeeper Tyler McEnery and into the net to tie things at 1-1.
The second half opened with Larkin (12-4-4, 5-2-2) firing shots off for the first 15 minutes. In the 56th minute those attacks paid off.
Luis Maldonado would find utility midfielder Drew open at the forward position, and Drew would fire off what would later become the game-winner past McEnery.
"Coach (Ken) Hall has had me up front the past few games, and I love attacking," Drew said. "Senior night definitely played a part in our intensity. After losing big last year, I said I wouldn't let it happen again this year.
"What a great way to end my years at Memorial Field."
Hall was more than impressed with Drew's effort.
"Steven had great composure on that shot," Hall said. "He took his time and did everything perfectly."
The rest of the game would belong to St. Charles North (12-4-2, 4-2-1), which put on major pressure to close things out, but could not finish. In fact North Stars forward Austin Andrekus took five shots of his own in the final 15 minutes of play.
"I was happy with the last 15 minutes," said North Stars coach Eric Willson. "I would like to have seen that intensity for the full 80 minutes.
"We've got three games left to sort things out here. We had a lot of missed opportunities."
That final opportunity came with 26 seconds remaining when Somarriba punched one out to conclude the game.
"I was pumped throughout the game," Somarriba said. "This was probably one of the best games I've played all year.
"This was what we were hoping for. The team was excellent."
-- Jen LaPorte
Wheaton Academy 3, Illiana Christian 1:ŒIn the Private School League tournament championship game, Andrew Knighten scored for the Warriors (11-3-4) in the sixth and 10th minutes, and Charles West added the third goal in the 35th.
Driscoll 5, St. Benedict 4:ŒMario Grana scored 4 goals to lead the Highlanders (1-14) to the nonconference victory. Grana has 7 goals on the season.
Lake Park 1, Streamwood 0:ŒSenior midfielder Chris Gajda scored the game's only goal in the first half, giving the Lancers the Upstate Eight Conference victory.
York 1, Downers Grove North 0:ŒGarry Howell scored the game's only goal for York.
Downers Grove South 3, Morton 0:ŒTom Kohls scored 2 goals, Steve Lucianek added the third and Mark Dismang assisted on all three for Downers South (15-2-3, 5-1) in the West Suburban Gold.
Girls volleyball
WW South d. West Chicago:ŒThe Tigers (24-3, 11-0) kept their record spotless in the DuPage Valley Conference with a 25-5, 25-7 win fueled by Muriel Miller's 8 kills, Annie Luhrsen's 18 assists and Becca Zlabis' 5 kills and 2 aces.
Benet d. St. Viator:ŒSarah Marek, Natalie Patzin and Jessica Jendryk landed 5 kills apiece for the Redwings (24-2, 7-1), who rolled to a 25-14, 25-12 East Suburban Catholic Conference sweep.
Glenbard East d. West Aurora:ŒAmanda Peterson collected 11 kills, Paige Gerstner came up with 11 digs and Brittany Cardott tallied 11 assists for the Rams (13-9, 7-4), who won 25-9, 25-15 in the DuPage Valley Conference.
Glenbard West d. Proviso West:ŒMelissa Noland smacked 9 kills, Andrea Roberts pounded 6 and Tori Clifford served 6 aces as the Hilltoppers (16-12, 2-3) earned a 25-17, 25-8 West Suburban Silver victory.
Montini d. Aurora Central:ŒStephanie Viane's 7 kills, Chrissy Fletcher's 4 kills and 7 blocks and Kara Schubert's 8 digs propelled the Broncos (15-14-2, 5-6) to a 25-16, 25-21 win in the Suburban Catholic Conference.
Willowbrook d. Leyden:ŒThe Warriors (13-13, 3-2) won 25-20, 25-13 in the West Suburban Gold powered by Caitlin Hopkins' 7 kills, Sarah McCarthy's 5 and Collette Williams' 4.
Glenbard South d. Rochelle:ŒDarah Preston's 8 kills, Alicia Engelhardt's 12 assists and 3 aces and Amanda Fisch's 3 kills and 3 blocks lifted the Raiders (13-13-1, 4-7) to a 25-20, 25-16 triumph in the Western Sun Conference.
Wheaton North d. Glenbard North:ŒThe Falcons (12-14, 5-6) prevailed 25-14, 25-18 in the DuPage Valley Conference behind Amy Groesbeck's 9 kills, 3 aces and 2 blocks, Jesse Smith's 16 assists and Liz Lee's 5 kills.
Lisle d. Plano:ŒLiz Todd spiked 6 kills, Sara Urban put down 4 kills and Stephanie Kelly tossed up 12 assists as the Lions (10-15, 7-1) posted a 25-15, 25-15 sweep in Interstate Eight Conference action.
Downers North d. Lyons:ŒThe Trojans (20-7, 5-0) stayed perfect in the West Suburban Silver with a 26-24, 23-25, 25-14 triumph on Erica Behm's 32 assists and 13 digs, Erin Sebo's 24 digs and 2 aces and Liz McAnally's 14 digs.
Downers South d. Morton:ŒEmily Toth reeled off 10 aces for the Mustangs (21-5, 5-0), who remained undefeated in the West Suburban Gold with a 25-0, 25-9 win aided by Mo Oestermeyer's 5 kills and Christine Bowe's 4 kills.
Ridgewood d. Fenton:ŒThe Bison (9-13, 3-4) fell 25-23, 25-17 in the Metro Suburban Conference despite receiving 4 kills apiece from Jayme Biagi and Ellen Harkins.