Rivals Geneva, Batavia can't beat bad weather

Pouring rain wasn't a problem for Geneva and Batavia on Thursaday, as the school's boys soccer teams pattered through a persistent precipitation.

Lightning was another story altogether. And when that lightning was accompanied by a deluge, there was really no choice by to bring this year's edition of the long-time rivalry to a close.

The teams played nearly 56 minutes and the 1-1 tie that existed when the match ended is official, marking the final time the schools meet in Western Sun Conference competition. Next fall, Batavia and Geneva join the Upstate Eight Conference, the fourth league in which the teams will have played boys soccer.

Geneva took the lead 18 minutes into the match. Craig Hancock played the ball forward to Brady Wahl, who moved up the right wing toward the end line. Wahl sent a cross to the center of the goal. Kevin Hilgart was first to the ball and shot the Vikings (11-3-2, 3-0-1) into the lead.

"Brady Wahl did a good job of getting to the end line," Geneva coach Ryan Estabrook said. "He put it right on (Hilgart's) boot and Kevin did a great job of putting it into the net. That's how we normally score and how we generally like to play. Unfortunately, those opportunities were few and far between."

Six minutes after Hilgart scored, Geneva unlocked Batavia's defense again with Wahl finding Seamus Kaminski, who slipped and was unable to get off a shot on goal.

Shortly after, Batavia (6-6-1, 2-1-1) equalized when Martin Viereckl took advantage of some Geneva defensive confusion. Viereckl found Mitch Albrecht with only the Vikings goalie to beat, and Albrecht did the rest to tie the match.

"I liked our composure," Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "We kept plugging away and got that equalizing goal and didn't let them score again in the first half. Then in the second half, we came out with a nice focus."

Batavia opened the second half brightly and was enjoying its best spell of possession and attacking chances when the lightning delay was called.

"It's unfortunate that it's got to end like this," Gianfrancesco said. "But (Geneva's) got four games next week and I do too. Then we've got two games the next week and it's rolling right into the state series."

Batavia's results are improving as this busy week progresses. After a 5-1 loss on Monday to Wheaton Warrenville South and a 2-1 defeat on Tuesday to Glenbard South, the Bulldogs take a day off before battling Kaneland on Saturday.

"Glenbard South's much improved and Wheaton South's obviously a very good team," Gianfrancesco said. "To come in here and go 1-1 on (Geneva's) field on their homecoming, I'll take it."

After a half-hour waiting for the weather to improve, the referee consulted with both coaches and ended the match.

While the teams could attempt to play the final 24 minutes at another date, finding such an open date with two weeks to play in the season is impossible. So the result as contested on Thursday is final.

"I think the game had to end when it did," Estabrook said. "The lightning wasn't letting up and we both have full schedules next week. The lightning wasn't letting up for quite a while. Even though we don't like the call, we realize this was the right decision to make."

The conditions hurt both team's style of play. While Burgess Field is relatively well-covered by grass, there are bare spots and there was standing water before the match began.

"I think both teams were hampered by their inability to gain any traction out there," Estabrook said. "The ball played pretty nicely. But I think we had a hard time with our footing out there."