Carillo, defense fuel big finish for Wheeling
Two area clubs looking to shake off the rust after a week-long hiatus met Thursday night in a Mid-Suburban League boys soccer crossover match.
Host Wheeling (1-2-0, 1-1-0) got the result it wanted by defeating visiting Hoffman Estates 3-1. The Wildcats' strong second-half effort was fueled by a pair of goals from junior Yonic Carillo and a stifling defense which slowed the hot-shot duo of Brad Powszok and Sishuh Zerihun.
"I'd like to say that not having a match in over a week is a good excuse to use for our loss, but that wouldn't be fair to Wheeling or speak to the fact that we played pretty good soccer in the first half," said Hawks coach Matt Sriver.
"Truth is, we could have maybe put the match away if we would have finished on a couple of our chances, but we didn't - and Wheeling played a solid second-half to take control."
The home side had its trouble with both Powszok and Zerihun in the early going, who likely will give plenty of opponents fits this season with their energy and pace and ability to create for each other as well as themselves.
The Hawks' striking duo had their best chance on a quickly created counter which saw Zerihun go over the woodwork after Powszok gave his mate a well-played helper in the center channel.
"I thought the team possessed the ball (well) in the first half, and that we were very dangerous up top at the same time," said the four-year starter Powszok, who along with Zerihun had a hand in all 3 goals in the Hawks' lone victory of the season over Libertyville.
"It's still early in the season and we need to play more matches together in order to come together as a team."
Despite enjoying the run of play, the Hawks found themselves trailing at 23 minutes when freshmen Irving Eloisa watched his shot redirected on its way through a crowd and into the back of the net.
Credit mates Robert Anaya and Edson Chan with an A-plus for effort to give Eloisa his chance to score.
Five minutes later the visitors drew even when Luis Vargas finished with a neat touch after collecting a rebound given up by keeper Arturo Escobedo, who stopped Zerihun in close and at the near post.
An unfortunate communication breakdown for the Hawks led to the eventual game-winner when a defender attempted to pass back to keeper Mike Gordon. The combination of too much pace and Gordon perhaps too far off his line saw the wayward ball tumble toward the Hawks (1-2-0, 0-1-0) goal, where an opportunistic Carillo would finish with ease.
The go-ahead goal at 54 minutes seemed to be the breakthrough the home side would need and from there, the run of play favored the Wildcats.
"We played two different halves of soccer, which is going to happen with such a young and inexperienced team like outs," said captain Ricky Garcia, who is one of four returning players from a wonderfully talented 2008 club.
"That was an unlucky goal for (Hoffman) and a real break for us, which is a tough thing to watch as any coach," began 'Cats head coach Ed Uhrik. "However, from that point to the end of the match, we put together some good play which is an encouraging thing to see as we continued to build and grow." Carillo was superb as he finished with a deft touch a long ball from the mid-line by Gabriel Garcia in the 79th minute to seal the victory.
Maine West 4, Leyden 3: Ryan Ybarra had a hat trick and Angel Herrera had an assist and an unassisted goal for Maine West in the Lake Park Invitational. Ybarra has 5 goals this season.
Conant 1, Lake Park 1: Kevin Reddington scored the only goal for Conant in the Lake Park Invitational draw.