Castro wins it for Wildcats in double OT
A perfect ball and perfect opportunity.
A perfect finish for Alvaro Castro.
His golden goal in the second overtime sent Libertyville into the supersectional thanks to a 1-0 win over top-seeded Carmel Catholic in the Class AA Libertyville sectional final Thursday night.
Libertyville (14-5) will next play top-seeded Barrington (21-2) in the Illinois Benedictine University supersectional in Lisle at 7 p.m. Monday.
Barrington got by Palatine 4-3 in double-overtime at Lake Zurich on Thursday night.
Castro also scored the winning goal in the Wildcats' sectional semifinal against Lake Forest. As was the case in that game, Brad Novak set up Castro.
"This is bigger than the goal the other day," Castro said. "It was a great ball by Brad. We've been connecting throughout the year."
Castro's 10th goal came in the 94th minute.
"I kind of looked up and saw the keeper (Joe Ferrari) coming at me," Castro said. "I saw the goal wide open so I decided to chip the ball right over him with the outside of my foot."
Libertyville sophomore Austin Gearing started the play along the left sideline by winning a ball and getting it to Novak.
"When I received the ball, I saw (Castro) making the corner run," said Novak, who has 3 goals and 4 assists in the playoffs. "He always makes it and I knew he'd be there."
Libertyville coach Andy Bitta, in his first year back after stepping away from the game for several years, has realized a dream come true with his team.
"If someone said to me, 'You'd take the job in May and be in the supersectional,' I would have said they're crazy," Bitta said. "It shows how hard these kids have worked and the same for the coaches. It's all like a dream coming back to the Sweet 16. Now we need to get one more."
Wildcats keeper Jim Palac made 8 saves in earning the shutout. He got help from defenders Andrew Stone, Ryan Hutten, Zach Sesterhenn and Steven Turchi.
Stone kept Carmel's dangerous Edwin Lagunas off the score sheet.
"I've not seen a better defender all year," Bitta said of Stone.
The Libertyville sophomore showed his toughness by coming back in the game after getting knocked in the head.
"He was dizzy," Bitta said. "Our trainer says, 'Stay out for 20 minutes.' He goes back in and heads another ball. He did a great job on Lagunas. He was just unbelievable out there."
Carmel (17-6-2) had its chances to win the game and get back to the supersectional for the second time in three years.
"I'm proud of my kids," Corsairs coach John Halloran said. "They played hard, but it didn't happen for us. This was a real good group. They put the effort in and the time in."
The Corsairs had a head-ball goal waved off in the 31st minute because of off-sides.
Lagunas had a breakaway in the 49th minute, but Palac made an incredible leg save.
The Corsairs' John Zeffery had two good scoring chances in the first overtime, but Palac stopped him on both occasions.
"I got through a couple of defenders and couldn't finish the shots," Zeffery said. "I didn't put it in the right spot. I put it right at Palac. I could have won the game.
"They've got a pretty good defense. We broke them down a few times. You've got to finish your opportunities. I guess that happens in playoff games. Libertyville was able to finish their opportunity."