Naperville C. dressed for success

Sporting dress slacks, long sleeves and a tie, Naperville Central boys water polo coach Bill Salentine may have been a tad warm poolside and may have appeared over-dressed to some.

But the Redhawks coach has made a habit of looking sharp come playoff time, and he had no regrets Saturday afternoon, not even after his players tossed him into the pool following a thrilling 9-8 sectional championship win over host Neuqua Valley that has the Redhawks headed back to state after a one-year absence.

"I believe that in the state series you should try and dress the part," said Salentine, whose team completed a four-game season sweep over the Wildcats with Saturday's win in Naperville. "Nothing against the other coaches who may wear shorts and such, but I believe in the state series it should be like you see with basketball coaches and other coaches."

But what happens when you get your nice clothes soaked, something the Redhawks coach has started to make routine as the program has grown into a regular state contender?

"My wife packs a bag (of clothes)," he said. "If I get dropped in the pool I get the bag. If (we lose and) I don't, then I don't have to know about the bag."

Entering the contest with a 25-4 mark and three wins already under their belts against Neuqua (19-8), the Redhawks grabbed a quick 2-0 lead on goals from Ben Reasons and Mark Menis. The first score came after a Bobby Rickert steal ended the Wildcats' first possession of the game, then it was Rickert who assisted on the Menis score that made it 2-0 with 5:46 still left in the opening quarter.

But despite great play from goalie Tyler Kelley and the Redhawks' defense, Neuqua fought back to keep the game close throughout. The score was even 3-3 after one quarter after John Mizkuzis scored twice for the hosts and Michael Rooney also notched a goal.

It was tied again at 4-4 after Neuqua's Ryan Jadwin tallied with 1:22 left in the first half, but Naperville Central's Mark Giuliani answered with one of his two scores for a 5-4 lead at the break.

When Reasons scored his third goal with just five seconds left in the third quarter for an 8-6 lead, the Redhawks appeared in great shape, but the Wildcats drew even again as Rooney scored with four minutes left and AJ Quebbeman picked up the equalizer with 1:31 left in the fourth quarter.

But Rickert hooked up with Max Saltzman for the game-winner, a shot that tipped off the hands of Neuqua keeper Brad Kay and just did make its way into the net with 1:07 left on the clock.

From there Kelley and his defense made that margin stand.

"After Max scored that big goal I was just thinking that I'm not going to let this game slip through my hands," said Kelley, who made 6 saves in the match. "I knew that they would not get one more goal. Now we'll change some things this week and make sure that we make that final push."

Reasons, who shared team scoring honors with Menis at 3 goals apiece, said Naperville Central came together after spring break.

"It was good that we could hold it together at the end today," he said. "After spring break we came together as a team and we worked on a lot of things. But today it was Tyler who held us in the game."

Neuqua coach Martin Bell had no complaints with his team's play.

"They made one play and we didn't," he said. "I can not bring myself to say we lost, even though they did win."

Bell also was impressed with Kelley's play between the pipes.

"Tyler Kelley is one of the most underrated goalies in the state," he said. "In fact the two goalies playing today are both amazing players."

Wildcats keeper Kay had 8 saves in the game.