BG regoups, tops Wheeling
After a rough week against a pair of Mid-Suburban West opponents, Buffalo Grove got back on track against rival Wheeling with a convincing 3-1 victory Friday afternoon to kick off homecoming weekend.
Ben Crusius, Alex Hughes and senior co-captain Kyle Fiordaliso found the back of the net for the Bison (7-6-4, 3-4-2), who didn't let a cold, steady rain dampen their spirits as they ended a 2-game losing streak.
"We didn't play with the type of energy that we normally do in (our) losses to Hoffman Estates (2-1) and Palatine (3-0), but right from the start, we played with energy and scored early to get an important win," said Hughes, who struck the game-winner at 52 minutes when his long crossfield serve from the right side found the upper left corner when it eluded the outstretched gloves of keeper Matt Rosen. "I am not sure if the (keeper) misplayed the ball or not, but I was just glad that it went in when it did," Hughes said.
Crusius put the home-side up just three minutes into the match after confusion reigned along the back to give the senior enough time and space to fire in his shot from 10 yards.
"Giving up that goal early on wasn't a good thing for us, and after we played as if we were down by 3 goals and not just 1," said Wheeling coach Ed Uhrik, who on Thursday evening watched his club fall 5-2 to Fremd after leading the Vikings on two occasions. "Our first 20 minutes of soccer just wasn't very good, but then next 20 we played much better and create some chances."
The Wildcats (6-8-1, 2-7-0) were able to draw even just before intermission when the center official allowed the visitors to play after Irving Eloisa was fouled near the mid-line but with the advantage going forward; Eloisa's teammate Irving Balboa drove a low shot past a diving Bison keeper Nick Landsberger.
After Hughes made it 2-1, it was now up to his mates along the back to stay air-tight with the Wildcats now adding numbers as they pushed forward in search of the equalizer.
The veteran quartet of Brandon Edelman, Vincent Rich, Matt Tanabe and Fiordaliso did just that - but not before a scary moment or two until Fiordaliso extended the lead in the 65th minute.
Alex Flores came through on the right side, forcing the Bison to clear. Moments later, a terrific 1-2 by Edson Chan and Jose Felix led to a half-volley from Felix which was blocked in close.
Fiordaliso's bullet header at the back post finished a well-paced corner from sophomore Alex Masciopinto and helped inspire Buffalo Grove, which maintained control of the match until throwing the Wildcats a lifeline at 70 minutes by sending Ricky Garcia to the spot for a PK attempt.
The Wildcats' captain watched Landsberger stop his low drive cold, all but ending the hopes of a late comeback.
"For us right now, it's just a matter of an inexperienced, young team trying to decide to play the way we want them to - or not," said Uhrik.