St. Viator wraps up tourney title at Glenbrook South

In a test of endurance, will and plenty of patience, St. Viator (4-2-0) earned its third consecutive tournament championship trophy Saturday afternoon at the 24th Titan Warm-Up by defeating host Glenbrook South 3-1.

The Lions were clearly struggling throughout the entire first half and nearly 20 minutes after intermission, until defensive captain Brendan King came to the rescue by striking the equalizer. Alan Aboona later finished off Glenbrook South with a pair of superb goals to give the Lions their seventh overall title here.

"Once (Trevor Wheeler) moved back into the middle and we began to find (him) with regularity, our attack got going and we put them under pressure after my goal," said King, a key figure along the Lions' backline with a trio of rookies alongside the two-year starter.

"Trevor asked me if he could move back, and you can see how much of a difference he makes when he has the ball," said St. Viator coach Mike Taylor, who watched in agony as his club played giveaway in the first half to allow the Titans (3-1-0) to have the run of play and keep the Lions far away from Glenbrook South keeper David Abiera.

"On Monday, when we came back from a terrible match with (Palatine), coach Taylor told us to forget about (that) match and get back to playing the way we are capable of," said King. "Monday in our tournament opener (a 3-1 win over Mather) we played a sequence of 20 great minutes, and it continued all throughout the week until today's first half of play."

The Lions paid dearly for a dreadful error in its own end, which resulted in Erick Melchor finding the back of the net at the 47th minute. Up until King scored, first-year head Titans coach Paul Agombar had his lads along the back tactically in synch.

"We were organized and kept our shape up," said Agombar, "and I really felt (St. Viator) would not score on us. But a mistake cost us, and we didn't come to play for a draw. So we pushed up, lost our shape, and (St. Viator) really took advantage of us after that."

King slipped through the center channel to unload a blast in close, which Abiera initially stopped, only to see it squirt free and just over the endline.

After a brief discussion by the center official and his assistant referee, who followed the play all along the touchline, the Lions were given the goal, much to the displeasure of Abiera.

The King goal helped spring one attack after another on the Titans, with Wheeler's presence in the middle providing pressure. The Lions also got some terrific minutes from reserve Joe Schmidt, who was brought on near the hour mark.

Schmidt assisted Aboona on his first goal at 72 minutes, which saw the senior use a deft touch to his left to get free and force Abiera off his line before bending his shot around the onrushing keeper.

Two minutes later Aboona sealed it when first King and then Jack Simpson provided assists for a classic finish in close.