Carmel, Libertyville play to draw

Neighbors?

Libertyville and Carmel are located about a mile apart on Route 176.

On the soccer field, both teams are certainly well-acquainted - they played for the third time in a year Monday afternoon.

Libertyville won both games last year, including a 1-0 victory in the sectional final.

But this time, the host Corsairs forged a 1-1 draw with the Wildcats in the nonconference season opener for both teams.

"We had a ton of different players out there, but it's the same rivalry," said Libertyville coach Andy Bitta. "It never changes. Throw the records out and play hard. Give them (Carmel) credit, Frst half they were going to the ball more than we were. Second half, we did a better job playing with more intensity. We were winning the 50/50 balls, building more and winning the touches more."

The Corsairs, who feature seven sophomores this season, received solid play in the back line from Jake Changelon, Shane Einloth, Kevin Quinn, Drew Wycoff and goalkeeper Luke Manieri (5 saves).

"We played real organized in the back," said Corsairs coach John Halloran. "We just lacked that final connecting pass up top. We're young, but this maybe the best team we see all year. If we can play like that, then we've got a good season ahead of us."

The Corsairs netted their goal in the 39th minute when Jack Stefanski sent a service to the back side and sophomore Jimmy Ryan headed the ball off a Libertyville defender into the goal.

"I was making a backdoor run," said Ryan, who scored his first varsity goal. "I just got a good chance to get it in. Getting my first one was big, I was very nervous out there."

Wildcats senior Andrew Stone tied the score when he took a cross from senior Dennis Mudd and knocked a header off the post in the 51st minute.

"It was a great ball and Denny bent it in," said Stone, who normally plays on defense and moved up front on free kicks. "I hit it off the far post and was supposed to be there. It was nice to get it, and it was my best high school goal.'

Girls tennis

Carmel d. Libertyville: Led by No. 1 singles player Jasmine Minor, Carmel defeated Libertyville 5-2.

Minor swept Sarah Paulson 6-1,6-1.

The Corsairs also won four of five doubles matches. The No. 1 team of Lauren Aguilar and Michelle Kunkler swept Eileen Lee and Emily Paul, 6-1, 6-1.

The Wildcats got a win in the No. 2 singles match, thanks to Nicole Klein, who swept Sophia Kannenberg, 6-2, 6-3.

Boys soccer

Warren 6, Grayslake Central 0: Warren cruised to a nonconference shutout, thanks to 2 goals from Thiago Ganancio.

Oskar Gasecki had a goal and an assist for the Blue Devils, who also got 2 saves from goalie Alex Flores.

Wauconda 3, Harvard 1: Wauconda opened up the season on a high note, getting a decisive nonconference win.

Greg Gustafson scored 2 goals and Mike LeClaire rolled up 2 assists.

Mike Morhen scored the Bulldogs' other goal.