Huntley outlasts Crystal Lake Central, 2-1

Huntley and Crystal Lake Central will get to know each other pretty well. Due to an earlier postponement, the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division opponents play back-to-back matches.

The Red Raiders (17-1-1, 7-0-0) won the opening round Monday with a 2-1 victory in Huntley. The two teams meet again today.

Corinne Wronski scored twice in the opening minutes to give Huntley all the offense it needed. Nelle Youel scored for Central (10-5-1) with 43 seconds left, but the Tigers couldn't muster another shot.

"We've got another game against them (today), so we knew we had to set the tone for both games in one game," said Wronski, whose goals helped the Raiders do that early on.

After Wronski's second goal, the defenses took control. Huntley had just 4 shots the rest of the first half, while the Tigers couldn't find the range against the Raiders' defense.

"I thought we moved the ball pretty well," said Huntley coach Kris Grabner. "I don't think we matched their physical play. That's something we'll have to change (today), because they came out and played very physical throughout the entire game. When you play that way, that can change a game."

The stop units were even more dominant after the break. A shot by Kelly Creager and a shot by Aimee Wronski that sailed just over the crossbar were Huntley's best scoring chances.

The Tigers got more aggressive as the game went on. However, they couldn't break through until Youel's shot from the left side deflected off the crossbar and into the net in the final minute.

"We'll try to turn around and figure out how to knock them off (today)," said Central coach Joe Schroeder, whose squad is down 4 starters due to injuries. "Otherwise, there's no point in stepping out on the field."