Neuqua Valley, Hinsdale Central back in Elite Eight
The last time Neuqua Valley went downstate in boys soccer, players likely had iPods on the team bus.
The last time Hinsdale Central reached the state finals, the team bus might have had an eight-track tape player on it.
Both took home state titles.
The 2003 Neuqua Valley team and the 1975 Hinsdale Central squad won state titles in their respective programs' only previous trips to the Class AA finals.
The 2007 editions of both teams will be present at the Class AA Elite Eight on Friday at North Central College in Naperville. A Wildcats team ranked fifth in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America, and a Red Devils team with 9 shutouts in its last 12 games will play on opposite sides of the finals brackets.
"We've been preparing all year for this opportunity," said Red Devils coach Mike Wiggins. "The kids know it's been 32 years since the program made it this far, and they're ready to represent their school."
The Red Devils (19-6-2) have earned a 22-3 scoring edge over foes during a 12-game winning streak. Built on team defense in front of one of the state's best goalkeepers in John Shakon, Hinsdale Central will take on defending state champion New Trier (21-2-1) in Friday's 6 p.m. quarterfinal game.
The Red Devils beat the Trevians 2-0 on Sept. 15, and they know New Trier will be primed for the rematch.
"They'll obviously want some revenge, but I think our team will be up to the challenge," said Red Devils senior David Tiemstra.
Jeff Graham leads the Red Devils with 10 goals, while Mark Knight has 8 goals and 9 assists. One of Illinois' best defenders, Tiemstra, has 7 goals, and Jason Loebig has posted 5 goals and 6 assists.
The Red Devils have scored 40 goals and given up 17 in 26 games. Tiemstra leads the way in back, but Alex Scott and Sam Toczylowski have been rock solid in front of Shakon, who holds the program record with 24 career shutouts and boasts a 0.60 goals-against average this year.
The Red Devils struggled through a 6-4-1 season start before their win over New Trier lit a flame.
"We found our intensity in that game," Tiemstra said. "In games after that, we talked about giving a 'New Trier-type effort.' "
A win Friday would put Hinsdale Central in Saturday morning's semifinals against the winner between Barrington (22-2) and Collinsville (15-9-2).
On the other side of the bracket, Neuqua Valley (22-1-4) squares off with Champaign Centennial (21-2-3) in Friday's quarterfinal round for a semifinal shot against Friday's winner between Lemont (22-2-3) and Rockford Boylan (23-3).
The Wildcats have earned a 73-19 scoring edge over their foes in 27 games, with Bret Hruby leading the pack with 22 goals, followed by Jaymie Bullard with 10, Bryan Ciesiulka with 9 goals and 13 assists, Bryan Gaul with 8 goals and Scott Davis with 7.
Gaul is a creative force with a ball at his feet at midfield, Hruby is a finisher, and the Wildcats have no shortage of fast, athletic, skilled players in the attack.
"I know that (Bullard) and (Ciesiulka) don't get mentioned much, and they should," Gaul said. "They're a big part of the attack."
And as they showed in their 1-0 supersectional win over a hot Geneva team, the Wildcats can also defend with the best of them.
Asa Carson, Paul Box, Robby Gargaro, Tanner Fink and Bo Miller have shined defensively, and goalkeeper Jack Turanchik has been exceptional in net this year. The sophomore holds a 0.54 goals-against average for a team with 14 shutouts on the year.
"We concentrate on that, and we pride ourselves on playing good defense," said Wildcats coach Jim Johns.
Champaign Centennial is essentially an unknown quantity for the Wildcats heading into their matchup, but ultimately Neuqua Valley aims to take care of its own business and let the rest sort itself out.
"We've just got to go out and do what we do every game," Gaul said. "If we play our game, I don't think there's any team that can stop us."