Saxons fall in double OT

DEKALB -- There was no mystery to the magical postseason tour by Schaumburg's boys soccer team.

And it appeared the Saxons' magic beyond regulation time would continue in Monday night's Class AA supersectional at Northern Illinois University's Huskie Stadium.

But a potentially golden goal a little more than a minute into the second overtime was disallowed. Nearly eight minutes later the Saxons (16-6-1) were on the shocking end of a 2-1 loss on a goal by Rockford Boylan (23-3) reserve Travis Haug..

''We had the ball bounce a lot of our way, but it decided to bounce the other way this game,'' said Schaumburg coach Hamid Mehreioskouei of his team winning its first four playoff games in overtimes or penalty kicks.

''We were used to it and thought we had it,'' Schaumburg senior midfielder James Rion said of going beyond the regulation 80 minutes again. ''It was just another walk in the park for us. Not this time.''

It appeared the Saxons had it at the start of the second overtime. Josh Beard sent a long ball that Wesley Hollis won from three defenders and eventually resulted in a Boylan yellow card.

Beard sent a perfect serve from 27 yards on the left side that sophomore midfielder Erhan Caglayan headed into the right side of the net with 8:58 left. But the official called Caglayan for a push and disallowed the goal.

''I didn't see anything,'' Rion said. ''I thought we were ready to hold that trophy high.''

Instead, Boylan qualified for the Elite Eight for the seventh time since 1997and will play in Friday's 11 a.m. state quarterfinal at North Central College in Naperville against Lemont, a 2-0 winner over Minooka.

''That's the thing about overtime --it shows you no mercy,'' Mehreioskouei said. ''One mistake ... that's all it is. The game's over.''

Chris Johnson started the decisive play with a right-sideline run and feed to Andrew Thappa in the corner. Thappa found Haug in the middle in front for a shot senior keeper Jordan Sandberg, who had another fantastic effort, had no chance to stop.

''We've played really well when we've played down the lines,'' Haug said after his fourth goal of the season. ''When I saw Andrew get the ball ... my eyes just lit up when he passed it to me.

''It was a perfect ball. Perfect.''

Boylan struck first just 1:05 after intermission when defender Rocco Taglia pounded a low, one-hop shot on a 22-yard free kick from the right side past Sandberg to the left corner.

But the Saxons answered with 28:10 left when Hollis sent a beautiful cross from the left backline to the far post for Caglayan's header.

''I thought we were the better team the whole game,'' Rion said.

''If there's one thing I learned about the 18 boys I have,'' Mehreioskouei said, ''is their heart is unbelievable.''

Although those hearts were broken in the second overtime, they'll also be warmed by the memories of a groundbreaking run to the program's first sectional title.

''That alone is a great accomplishment,'' Rion said. ''We all know we could have gone farther and done well in state.

''I'm sorry to see it end short.''