Early strikes help WW South stop New Trier
Wheaton Warrenville South stunned New Trier with two early strikes in the first half and held off a strong bid from the Trevians after the break to earn a 2-1 decision Thursday afternoon to conclude pool play at the 22nd Barrington Classic.
The victory moves the Tigers (2-1-1) into the third-place match Saturday afternoon against Lake Zurich. Nearly one year ago, these two clubs met in the final here, with the Tigers defeating the then defending state champs from 2008 with a dramatic 3-2 victory, with Guy Callipari's lads holding on for the final 20 minutes to lift the big trophy.
"Today you saw how three games in three days had taken its toll on both clubs, as the legs were a little tired, and the play suffered at times because of it," Callipari said.
Dan Burns found the back of the net just 60 seconds into this match, with the help of teammate George Doran.
"Dan is a terrific 1v1 player, and when he was able to get into (that) position today, he was able to finish for us," Callipari said.
The Tigers' junior slotted past Trevians goalkeeper Chris Neuhaus off the counter, in which Doran sent his mate through with a superb bal that caught their opponents flat just as they were pushing forward just moments after the match began.
With the Trevians' struggling to stay organized along the back, it wasn't long before WW South doubled its lead when Mike Kania stayed with a fading Hector Espino corner before thumping his header into the back of the net.
"We've been hit hard early on with a rash of injuries that I haven't been around for a long while, and we're just not as sharp as we can be in the back with us playing so many freshmen and sophomores, while still trying to figure out who belongs where," said Trevians assistant Wes Molyneaux.
New Trier (1-2-1) is without one of the best in the area in Alex Johnson-Bice, who will be sidelined for at least six weeks according to Molyneaux, after suffering a broken fibula Tuesday night in the Trevians' tourney opener with Boylan.
Despite their troubles the Trevians battled back, when Jeff Farina struck at 46 minutes to make it 2-1, and from the brave work by Neuhaus, who turned away a trio of wonderful chances the Tigers manufactured.
"We talked about how important the next goal would be after the break, and of course, when New Trier got closer, it changed the entire match around," Callipari said. "But we made a few changes here and there, and created some very good chances (ourselves) but couldn't get that third goal in."
Neuhaus stopped Erick Yamane, who was sent through the center channel by Nate Fuster at 53 minutes, then was at it again when Burns tricked his way in close aat 71 minutes. The senior was fearless in back-to-back saves as the Tigers' kept up its onslaught, when he was off his line to turn away Doran who got free, before staying with a freekick missile from Fuster in the 78th minute.
"Coach told us at the break that we won the first half, but how important it was to do the same in the second-half," captain Thomas Schubert said. "We had to work really hard to (do) so, but we did."