New Trier catches Wheaton Academy in 2nd half

Part of playing soccer is learning how to protect a lead.

Wheaton Academy learned Thursday night it still has some learning to do.

New Trier scored three times in the second half to earn a 3-2 come-from-behind victory in Pepsi Showdown play in West Chicago.

"We came out in the first half really wanting to set the tone," Warriors coach Jeff Brooke said. "New Trier is someone that as a program is well run. They've had incredible success at the 3A level, and we want to not back down against anyone."

Wheaton Academy took a 2-0 lead into halftime thanks to goals by Tim Daniels and Stephen Fernandes, the latter off a long flip-throw from Alex Varga.

"They had us. They were ready for us," New Trier coach Craig Fairbairn said of the first half.

New Trier (4-3-1), meanwhile, is becoming expert at the comeback, doing it for a third time this season.

"In the second half, to their credit, they brought an incredible amount of pace and pressure," Brooke said. "Obviously, we'd like to have a few things back."

New Trier had the Warriors (3-2-1) in the second half, pressing the action. The Trevians finally broke through in the 64th minute on a Nicholas Glattard goal. Matt Hickey's right-footed side volley from 35 yards tied the game in the 69th minute, setting up Glattard's game-winner in the 77th.

"It's one of those things when late in the half they get the first, and 2-0 is kind of a scary place to be sometimes," Brooke said. "They got that first, we really showed some hesitation in terms of continuing to commit to our possession in the intense situation of playing a New Trier. So we'll build from it. We're going to learn from this."