Neuqua builds its resume with win over St. Charles North

Neuqua Valley forward Patrick Doody is having quite a week.

After scoring the game-winning goal to beat Lyons Twp. in Sunday's Pepsi Showdown championship, the junior assisted on a pair of Brandon Loncar scores Tuesday to lead the Wildcats to a 2-0 victory over St. Charles North in an Upstate Eight Conference match.

"We're just glad to have (Doody)," Neuqua Valley coach Tony Kees said. "He adds a big element and dimension to our team. It's his pace, he turns the corner well and he serves a good ball."

St. Charles North (6-8, 0-2) found itself at an impasse with the Wildcats during a scoreless first half.

"I thought we started out pretty well," North Stars coach Eric Willson said. "When you play a team like that you probably expect to give up a little in the possession game and you might defense a little, and I thought we did a good job of that and gave ourselves a few opportunities to take a lead."

Neuqua Valley took the lead when Doody served a cross to Loncar, who blasted a hopper past goalkeeper Zach Hosler. Less than a minute later Doody fell to the turf hard, but he recovered and later made the North Stars pay again when he found Loncar for a second time.

"I kind of went across the middle and was sitting on the ball," Doody said. "I had to take advantage and I had a good touch and put up a good ball to Brandon."

Neuqua Valley (14-0-1, 2-0) may have come out a bit sluggish in the opening half with thoughts of Sunday's championship win still lingering. That seemed to change in the final 40 minutes.

"It's always tough coming off a championship game and you expect a bit of a hangover there," Kees said. "It was a matter of us finding a rhythm in the second half and finding a way in. You have to give credit to (St. Charles North). They were pretty organized, limited space and weren't going to give us anything."

While disappointed in "two serious mental mistakes" that resulted in the two goals, Willson likes how battle-tested his team is becoming.

"The boys can't get frustrated," he said. "They need to continue to grow and get better, and have the right attitude so we're ready to go at the end of the year." The Wildcats, on the other hand, could be even better later this fall if Jacob Brindle and Scott Davis get healthy and return to action.