Broncos bust Collinsville
A virtuoso first-half performance from goalkeeper Tom Unak and 2 second-half goals by Ata Ozbay inspired Barrington in a 3-0 victory over Collinsville in Class AA boys soccer state quarterfinal play Friday at North Central College in Naperville.
The victory sends the Broncos (23-2) into today's 11 a.m. semifinal match against Hinsdale Central, a 2-1 winner over New Trier in double overtime.
Barrington will likely be without all-area sweeper Brian Bernal, who fell unconscious after a collision at 53 minutes and was taken to the hospital after regaining consciousness.
Unak scripted his own man-of-the-match honors for the Broncos' with 2 brilliant goal-saving stops to help keep the Kahoks (15-10-2) from equalizing and set up Ozbay's heroics after the hour mark.
"That second save was just a reaction save," said Unak. "It all kind of happened in slow motion when the ball came off his head."
In that sequence at the 31-minute mark, Jordan Dellamano slipped inside to meet and redirect a serve, only too see Unak acrobatically push the drive straight up. The ball and Unak both fell to the ground, and while falling backward, Unak stayed composed long enough to catch and keep the ball on the safe side of the end line and out of the Broncos' net.
"He was the man for us today," said Barrington junior midfielder Ryan Mangone.
Barrington was disappointed after having a goal by Andrew Kommick taken away at 2 minutes. Some 25 minutes later, Mangone found the back of the net with what turned out to be the game-winner.
The Kahoks, who struggled at times when the pace was pushed to a high level by the Broncos, felt the strain when Mangone's bulleted one-timer went off keeper Robert Randant's glove from 16 yards on the left side.
In between the Mangone strike and up until the first Ozbay goal, Broncos leading scorer Francesco Furio (22 goals) was unable to capitalize on several chances as the Kahoks committed countless fouls to slow him or used triple teams to accomplish the same goal.
Still, with a full day's work up top of running hard, Furio likely contributed to his club's ability to finally break down its opponent.
"We made some adjustments at the break and went to knocking the ball over the top because both Francesco and Ata had too much speed and were continually getting past (Collinsville) along the back," said Barrington coach Scott Steib.
Jack Valentine turned provider when he played one out of the back to Ozbay, whose close-range drive went roaring past Randant.
Three minutes later Furio initiated the final strike when he his blast spilled off of Randant and caromed out to an eager Ozbay, who finished easily.
"We never really get too worried when games are close," said Ozbay, who now has 13 goal. "We really are fine in tight matches."
"Outside of watching 2-3 goals pulled back away from us, I thought we played well, created chances and appeared fit and ready for this match," said Steib. "Obviously we're concerned about Brian and his condition right now, and if he should be unable to play, we'll make some adjustments and perhaps move Cameron Reilly back there (the senior finished the match at sweeper for Steib), or look at some other options.
"His loss affects us in so many ways, but the guys will pull together, with whatever we do with our first 11."