Neuqua Valley steps past Hinsdale Central

Two great feeds for two finishes, and Dan O'Leary became just the latest Neuqua Valley player to come up big for his soccer team.

"There are a lot of good players on this team," said Neuqua Valley coach Jim Johns. "(O'Leary) has played big for us. He's really done a great job."

Bryan Ciesiulka scored twice and Scott Davis netted a goal in the Wildcats' 3-0 win over Hinsdale Central, in a Class 3A supersectional game that advanced Neuqua Valley (21-4-2) to the state's Final Four on Friday.

The artificial surface at the Benedictine University seemed conducive to the Wildcats' fast style of play, which they hope to take onto the same surface at North Central College in Naperville on Friday.

"This surface is a lot better for us. We like to play it around," O'Leary said. "We're looking forward to that game."

The Red Devils (17-7-2) came out strong through 15 minutes, applying pressure and earning good free-kick chances in the process.

"We knew (Hinsdale Central) was a dangerous team, especially on free kicks," Johns said. "The first 10 minutes we were on our heels, until we settled down."

In the 17th minute O'Leary slotted a ball forward to Ciesiulka, who cut it back left and tucked it inside the near post from 10 yards out. Ciesiulka scored his 17th goal of the year early in the second half, and the Wildcats went up 3-0 in the 52nd minute when O'Leary hustled a ball to the end line and fed the goalmouth.

"On the first one, Jaymie (Bullard) sent me a great ball across, and I saw Bryan making that slotting run," O'Leary said. "The second one, I just saw Scotty (Davis) coming across, and I just had to put it on his foot."

The Red Devils fought for chances throughout but couldn't find a finish.

"This group came a long way this year and did some really good things along the way," said Red Devils coach Mike Wiggins. "It's been a proud, hard-working group and a fun group to coach."

Hinsdale Central reached Tuesday's game thanks to a 2-1 comeback win in a sectional final against Morton, a team that had beaten the Red Devils 5-0 early in the season.

The Wildcats will play in a state semifinal on Friday against New Trier, a 5-0 supersectional winner over Waukegan.

"To win 21 games - it's been an unbelievable year," Johns said. "Our average has been 20 (wins) over the last eight years, and that says something about the quality of the men that we have playing for us."