Pirates finish Jacobs' run
The stirring postseason adventure for Jacobs came to a resounding halt in Lake Zurich Tuesday night when No. 6 seed Palatine proved one giant too many for the Golden Eagles' late-blooming soccer team.
Having beaten No. 2 seed St. Viator and No. 7 Cary-Grove in two previous upset victories, No. 17 Jacobs (10-16-0) allowed 2 goals in 10 minutes during the first half before falling to the Pirates (16-8-0) 3-0 in the second sectional semifinal of the Lake Zurich sectional.
Palatine will face top-seed Barrington (20-2-0) at 6 p.m. Thursday in the sectional final, with the winner advancing into next Monday's supersectional at Benedictine University in Lisle.
"Just as last Saturday (against) Lake Zurich, we knew and felt scoring first would be so important against a team who has had a terrific tournament run," said Palatine coach Willie Filian. "I like the way that we continued to pressure (Jacobs) and look to add to our lead all throughout the match and to make it a tough match for them to get back into."
Senior Louis Vargas easily earned man of the match honors for the Pirates as his perceptive use of the ball never allowed the Golden Eagles to relax for a second, while his work created space and opportunity for his teammates -- and an ovation from Jacobs coach Jim Dzialo at night's end.
"We haven't seen anyone like No. 9 (Vargas) at all this season," said Dzialo. "We were unable to find an answer, particularly in the first half. And after giving up that first goal, the second, then third … they were just a little too much for us to overcome tonight."
The Golden Eagles' marvelous run began to unravel when Joshua Clark redirected a rebound off a wonderful punch-and-save inside the 6 by keeper Danny Trevor at 18 minutes to finish a strong start by the Pirates.
Vargas and front-line mates Haris Haskovic and Glenn Arnold had too much pace and energy for their opponents. That trio, along with an experienced midfield, recorded nearly a dozen set-piece, long throw and corner kick opportunities in the first quarter hour leading up to the Clark finish.
Matt Bliznick cleared a sure goal off the end line for Jacobs at 24 minutes on a Haskovic attempt before Vargas electrified the Pirates' bench when he blasted a 25-yard shot after a Matt Marturano helper.
"That first goal for us was huge," began Vargas. "But getting that third one was even bigger because a 2-0 lead is always a dangerous one to protect."
Pirates keeper Ben Calvopina had an uneventful first 40 minutes of action, but the senior was called upon on two occasions after intermission to help preserve his club's lead and eventual shutout, his seventh of the season.
After Zach Compton made it 3-0 with a header at 49 minutes on a superb Clark serve, Calvopina turned away captain Taylor Pignataro, who had a strong go in close, and again later, when Mark Kyszka's left-footed blast came from the near post side.
"We may have a good bit of luck and fortune during the last couple of matches, and maybe our luck ran out against a very skilled and talented opponent," said Dzialo.
"But I am real proud of all of the guys and what they accomplished."
Larkin 2, Maine West 1:ŒComing into Tuesday night's Class AA sectional semifinal contest of the Streamwood sectional, Larkin knew a win would give it the opportunity to avenge a heartbreaking sectional final loss from the 2006 season.
After a scoreless first half, the Royals kicked it into high gear, scoring 2 quick second-half goals to guarantee themselves at least that chance as they held on to defeat Maine West 2-1. Larkin will meet Schaumburg, which edged Lake Park 1-0 after penalty kicks, in the sectional final round.
"We were a little off in the first half," said Larkin coach Ken Hall. "We just couldn't connect on the last pass."
Scoring opportunities were hardly a problem for the Royals, who out-shot Maine West 9-3 in the first half alone, with their first scoring chance coming in the first minute of action.
In fact, the Royals dominated early, not allowing Maine West a scoring opportunity until the 20th minute of play, a shot which sailed over the Larkin net.
Any first-half chances the Warriors did take were spoiled by either sweeper Fernando Alverez or goalkeeper Raziel Somarriba.
"Fernando is a first team all-state sweeper in my mind," said Hall. "There is not a better defender in the state. If there is, I haven't seen him."
Somarriba (7 saves) picked up anything Alverez missed, collecting huge saves in the 22nd minute and again in the 28th minute.
Just nine minutes into the second half, Larkin 'drew' first blood when midfielder Steven Drew found Danny Hinterlong in front of the net.
"Steven delivered a nice cross," said Hinterlong. "I headed it, and kicked it in on the rebound."
The goal gave Larkin (17-5-4) a much needed 1-0 lead.
"At the half, we just told the guys to relax," said Hall. "I told them to speed up play a bit, but we didn't make any adjustments."
Speed it up they did.
In the blink of an eye, the Royals attacked again. This time, Misael Hernandez fired off a blast from about 30 yards out which forward David Rodriguez gave a final touch to put it past charging Maine West goalkeeper Nate Andersen (9 saves).
The goal came three minutes after the first knock to quickly make it 2-0 in favor of the Royals.
"I was hoping to get that last goal," said Rodriguez. "Danny gave us the momentum that we needed."
Somarriba made a spectacular diving save on a big rip off the foot of Pawel Mirek with 20 minutes left to play and two more big saves late in the game.
It wasn't until the final 19 seconds of play that Maine West (12-7-5) would cut the lead in half. Following a corner, Stewart Turner-Jackson pushed one past Somarriba off of a feed by David Puka.
Time ran out before the Warriors could strike again.
"I thought we played well," said Maine West coach Mike Divincenzo. "We knew that Larkin was good with set piece goals so we tried to defend the corners and I think we did a good job of that.
With the win, Larkin advances to Thursday night's sectional final where they will face Schaumburg at 6 p.m.
"We know that Schaumburg has a strong midfield and they are on a run right now," said Hall.
Rodriguez likes Larkin's chances.
"We are really clicking right now," Rodriguez said. "I think we have a really great chance for a win Thursday."
-- Jen LaPorte
Wheaton Academy 1, St. Charles North 0:ŒWheaton Academy's Lucas Young had a quick answer when asked how many goals he has this year after scoring the lone goal in a Class AA sectional semifinal win over St. Charles North on Tuesday.
"I have no idea, and I don't really care right now," Young said. "It went in, we scored and we won."
The sixth-seeded Warriors (15-3-5) beat the second-seeded North Stars (17-5-2) on Young's diving head shot in the game's 18th minute. It came on a beauty of a free kick sent in by Andrew Knighten.
But it was a collective Warriors effort that advanced them to a Class AA sectional final for the first time since they moved up from Class A two seasons ago.
"Defensively, they outplayed us tonight," said North Stars coach Eric Willson. "They deserved to win the game, there's no doubt about that."
Wheaton Academy got yeoman's efforts from BB Taylor and Brooks VanderVeen in man-marking the North Stars' Austin Andrekus and Mike Picinich, plus a strong effort from the back line of Charles West, Danny Torres and John Clancy.
The Warriors held the North Stars to only 2 shots on net for the game and have now posted consecutive 1-0 wins in the postseason.
"Where the sudden burst of defensive prowess is coming from is beyond me," said Warriors coach Dave Underwood. "This was totally atypical of the way we've been playing all year. I just know our back line has been playing phenomenal."
"We're just finally starting to get it, I think," West said. "We're finally starting to click."
The Warriors capped a strong opening 15 minutes of play with Young's goal, when Knighten sent in his free kick from 30 yards out. Young came around a defender, dove and banged a shot toward the post.
"I was trying to hit it back post to (Justin Potesta), but it went in. Greatest goal I think I've ever had," Young said.
The North Stars nearly tied things up on their lone shot of the first half when Vladamir Schlageter broke in on Warriors goalkeeper Ryan Seager. Seager left his line, slid and booted the offering away.
St. Charles North had 5 corner kicks and numerous free kicks in the game, but struggled to become dangerous during the run of play.
"It was compact in the middle and it was important for us to get it wide and find feet," Willson said. "We didn't do that, and I think that's a major factor to why we lost tonight."
The Warriors will play Geneva in West Chicago at 5 p.m. Thursday with a sectional title on the line, while the North Stars will bid farewell to a core of quality seniors.
"They built the program into something that we feel is a strong tradition now of good quality soccer that can compete with anybody," Willson said. "Their heads should be held up high, because they put this program on the map."
-- Gary Larsen