Redhawks don't let deficit get them down

Sometimes getting the first goal makes all the difference in a soccer game.

Sometimes it doesn't make any difference.

Naperville Central gave up the opening goal to Benet, then took control in the second half for a 4-1 nonconference victory Saturday in Lisle.

"It really didn't faze us," senior Chris Prince said. "We just kept working together, kept working hard. Didn't let it affect us."

"We really do have great kids, and that type of thing doesn't really bother them," Redhawks coach Jay Konrad added. "They kept working and kept plugging away and doing what we were asking them to do and it worked out well for us today."

It was only the third time the Redhawks (6-1-1) have trailed this season.

"We've been behind three times and come back twice. That's a credit to their character," Konrad said.

Benet had the edge in shots and possession in the first half and looked good when Brian Morefield scored in the 15th minute. But Naperville Central evened the score in the 21st minute on a Chris Prince free kick from 27 yards out. The ball cleared a five-man wall and went just inside the near post and under the crossbar.

"I've been practicing it a lot lately and I was feeling it as soon as I got the foul," Prince said.

It was a busy day for the hobbling Prince. He added a goal in the 44th minute, his 11th of the season, then assisted on Colin Rook's goal in the 48th and freshman Conner Allen's header in the 59th. Not bad for someone who injured his right leg Tuesday and was on crutches Thursday.

Allen was one of four players called to the varsity for the match as the Redhawks shook up their playing rotation; Patrick Flynn, Dylan Pauga and Sean Stevens were the others. All of them contributed to what Konrad called his team's best effort of the season.

"They all played well," Prince added.

The loss left Benet coach Henry Wind perplexed about his Redwings (2-3-1).

"I don't know what it is," Wind said. "We just haven't played well lately. The talent is there. It's just not happening offensively. Defensively, we're not solid. We're getting beat."